Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Sea Changes Ashore: The Ocean And Iceland's Herring Capital., Lawrence C. Hamilton, Steingrimur Jonsson, Helga Ogmundardottir, Igor M. Belkin

Sociology

Abstract

The story of Siglufjörour (Siglufjordur), a north Iceland village that became the "Herring Capital of the World," provides a case study of complex interactions between physical, biological, and social systems. Siglufjörour's natural capital - a good harbor and proximity to prime herring grounds - contributed to its development as a major fishing center during the first half of the 20th century. This herring fishery was initiated by Norwegians, but subsequently expanded by Icelanders to such an extent that the fishery, and Siglufjörour in particular, became engines helping to pull the whole Icelandic economy. During the golden years of this …

Child Poverty In Rural America, Kenneth M. Johnson, William P. O'Hare

Sociology

This report explores the well-being of the 14 million children who live in rural America. Rural families represent a significant share of our total population and they are disproportionately poor, less educated, and underemployed. Yet poor children and the unique challenges they face are often overlooked by policymakers. Poor children living in rural America face significant educational, social, and economic challenges just as their urban counterparts do, but many of these problems are exacerbated by the isolation and limited access to support services common in rural areas.

Above And Below The Water: Social/Ecological Transformation In Northwest Newfoundland, Lawrence C. Hamilton, Richard L. Haedrich, Cynthia M. Duncan

Sociology

Marine fisheries and fishing societies develop around the resources provided by a particular ecosystem. As they exploit these resources, fisheries transform the ecosystem, which pushes fishery and society to adapt in turn. This process is illustrated by fisheries, ecological and social data tracking dramatic changes on Newfoundland's Northern Peninsula and its adjacent marine ecosystem, the northern Gulf of St. Lawrence. There a longstanding fishery for cod and other groundfish collapsed in the 1990s, and was replaced by fisheries targeting invertebrates. The new invertebrate fisheries have different socioeconomic characteristics than the former groundfish fisheries. The shift in target species reflects deep …