Wealth, Poverty, and Immigration: The Role of Institutions in the Fisheries of Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

This chapter explores two concurrent processes in the fisheries of TamilNadu, India, over the past century: technological modernization anddemographic growth. The first process is closely connected to the BlueRevolution instigated by the Government of India after Independence, aswell as to the globalization of markets. It has resulted in substantialincreases in sectoral wealth. The second process is the increasing sizeof the fishing population through natural growth and immigration. Isituate the poverty that still occurs in Indian fisheries in theconfluence of these two processes, arguing that varying institutionalarrangements which structure participation have an important effect onpoverty's availability and location. The chapter centers on oneparticular district - Ramnathapuram - which has witnessed particularlydramatic increases in its fishing population compared to other parts ofthe South Indian coastline. This has resulted in specific patterns ofpoverty and riches.