Condiciones socioeconomicas de pobreza de los pescadores artesanales.

Abstract

This research entitled "Impact of artisanal fishing activity on the socioeconomic conditions of the inhabitants of the 5 de diciembre neighborhood, Puerto Bolívar", has its origin in the verification of the existence of a problematic reality characterized by the socioeconomic impoverishment of the inhabitants of this populous sector, most of whom are immersed in artisanal fishing activity. Fishing has traditionally been the engine of local economic and social development, supplying seafood products to the local, provincial and regional markets, generating direct and indirect employment and a fixed source of income for the fishermen's families. However, the convergence of several endogenous and exogenous factors had generated in recent years precarious labor conditions in the artisanal fishing activity and with it, conditions of socioeconomic and sociofamily impoverishment. This unsatisfactory reality needed to be analyzed in depth through the implementation of a research project whose main objective was to determine the level of impact of artisanal fishing activity on the socioeconomic conditions of the fishing population and their families, for which it was necessary to build a cause-effect system with the identification of the critical nodes of the problem. This is how the idea of carrying out a descriptive-explanatory diagnostic study was consolidated, relating the theoretical variables of artisanal fishing activity and socioeconomic conditions of the fishing population, based on a quantitative methodological design, with theoretical support in the empirical-inductive epistemological approach and in the philosophical current of empiricism and, of course, with the use of quantitative research instruments, which would make it possible to apprehend the necessary empirical information. The results of the diagnostic study made it possible to identify the causal factors of the low level of production of the artisanal fishing activity. These include the lack of cohesion and organization of fishermen, organized crime in the form of piracy that takes away the fruits of fishing, their engines and boats, the aggressiveness of industrial fishing that invades the maritime territory assigned to artisanal fishing, the fishermen's lack of knowledge of many of the rights of artisanal fishing activities, government abandonment that favors industrial fishing, and the absence of lines of credit that allow for the renewal of engines and boats. In addition, there are the disastrous consequences of the covid-19 pandemic. Similarly, the empirical research would determine the characteristics of the socioeconomic conditions in which the families of artisanal fishermen living in the December 5 neighborhood develop. The low level of income from fishing, at the same time the only source of family budget, the inability to cover basic needs and services, the non-fulfillment of acquired economic obligations, the impossibility of working in other labor areas due to the obligatory confinement because of the effects of the covid-19 pandemic, are eloquent manifestations of socioeconomic poverty reflected in a severe deterioration of the quality of life. The empirical information gathered made the construction of the matrix of community requirements viable and, within the framework of the analysis of priority and operational feasibility, a requirement was selected consisting of the design and execution of a training and specialized technical assistance program to promote the development of socio-family micro-enterprise enterprises, aimed at covering the local demand for goods and services and obtaining economic resources that will allow the families of artisanal fishermen to recover their purchasing power and improve their quality of life. The intervention proposal, duly justified, justified, planned and budgeted, requires for its implementation, the inter-institutional intervention of important government agencies, such as the Technical University of Machala (UTMACH), the Decentralized Autonomous Government of the Province of El Oro, the cantonal GAD of Machala, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, province of El Oro, and the Committee of the neighborhood December 5, with whose joint efforts will contribute to local socioeconomic development and good local community living.