A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF HUMAN-RESOURCE STRATEGIES FOR SUSTAINABLE SMALL-SCALE FISHERIES
Abstract
Small-scale fisheries (SSF) play a crucial role in global food security and livelihoods, but face the threat of marginalization in the Blue Economy paradigm, which is dominated by narratives of industrialization. This systematic review aims to synthesize evidence on human resource (HR) strategies to support the sustainability of SSF within the Blue Economy framework. A systematic review using the PRISMA protocol was conducted on 12 selected studies from the Scopus and Web of Science databases. The review revealed three main findings. First, there is a wide governance gap between the inclusive rhetoric of the Blue Economy and the reality on the ground, which marginalizes SSF communities. Second, effective HR strategies are multidimensional, encompassing women's empowerment (such as the TCMFEP model from Kerala), strengthening Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE)-based institutions, and long-term holistic capacity building. Third, significant methodological challenges and data gaps, including narrow definitions of SSF and data fragmentation, hinder effective research and policy formulation. It is concluded that realizing a just Blue Economy requires a paradigm shift towards inclusive governance, investment in transformative HR strategies, and a commitment to addressing data gaps through a transdisciplinary approach.