Small coastal communities in the North Atlantic have faced widespread unemployment, substantial outmigration, and closure of major social institutions since the collapse of the northern cod fishery in 1992. This research project will (1) describe and analyze the fisher-families' perspectives of their changing situation and their conceptions of feasible responses to those changes; (3) compare these perspectives to actual social and economic processes affecting the communities; and (4) analyze the connections between perceptions and actual rapid changes. By illuminating the range of community perspectives and responses, this research is designed to contribute to the development of co-management policies to address resource crises.
