More Than Just Money? Understanding Generational Renewal in Small-Scale and Large-Scale Fisheries

Dr. Dražen Cepić and Dr. Branko Ančić, researchers at the Institute for Social Research in Zagreb, together with co-author Danijel Kanski, have published the article “More Than Just Money? Understanding Generation Renewal Among Small-Scale and Large-Scale Fishers” in the prestigious international journal Society & Natural Resources, a leading Q1 journal, indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection (SSCI).

The article examines the factors shaping Croatian fishers’ decisions to remain in or leave the fishing profession, with a particular focus on generational renewal in small-scale fisheries (SSF) and large-scale fisheries (LSF). The authors apply the theoretical framework developed by Pollnac and Poggie, expanded to include economic, environmental, and institutional variables, including trust in regulatory institutions.

The findings show that income is a key factor for both groups of fishers. However, small-scale fishers, in addition to economic considerations, place significantly greater emphasis on self-actualization, environmental concern, and trust in institutions, while large-scale fishers are primarily motivated by economic factors.

The study is thematically and empirically linked to the research activities of the SOCFISH project, conducted at the University of Zadar and funded by the Croatian Science Foundation.

Overall, the results highlight pronounced differences between fisheries segments and underscore the need for targeted public policies that take into account the specific characteristics of different fisheries in the context of long-term sustainability.

The article is available at:
https://doi.org/10.1080/08941920.2025.2610620