295
H.-J. Ceccaldi et al. (eds.), Marine Productivity: Perturbations and Resilience of Socio-ecosystems,
DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-13878-7_32, © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2015
Abstract
Fishermen on the French Mediterranean coasts are assembled in old and
original collectives called prud’homies and follow their own rules. The
individuals in charge of these areas, the prud’hommes, manage coastal
fi shing areas, act as auxiliary police, settle disputes between members,
participate in the regulation of the use of coastal areas, and have an important social infl uence. They take into account the evolution of available
short- and medium-term resources and set rules that are accepted by all
fi shermen in the collective.
C. Decugis (*)
9 avenue de la Fontaine , 83700 Saint-Raphaël , France
Prud’homie des Pêcheurs de Saint-Raphaël ,
14 avenue Commandant Guilbaud ,
83700 Saint-Raphaël , France
e-mail: chris.decugis@gmail.com
Mediterranean Prud’homies
Christian Decugis
1
Introduction
The Mediterranean fi shing communities periodically elect representatives called ‘prud’hommes’
to organize and sustain fi shing in the territory in
which they practice their profession.
A ‘prud’homme’ is a person with extensive
experience in and knowledge of the fi shing techniques and the people who practice this activity.
He is a wise man with impeccable morals who is
elected by his peers. The ‘prud’homme’ is selected
from the older generation: he must have been a
professional fi sherman for at least 10 years and a
skipper for at least 5 years. He must take an oath
before the administrative authorities, which
refl ects an individual commitment rather than an act
of a higher maritime authority. There are no written laws: the oral tradition prevails.
The ‘Prud’homies’ system has spanned the
centuries, as attested by the contents of old
archives: patent letters of King René and kings of
France since the fi fteenth century; the Decree of
the Constituent Assembly in 1792 recognized the
merits of prud’homies of Marseille and Cassis
and authorized others to create prud’homies ports
on this model; the 1859 Decree that still governs
the operation of such meetings. It is likely that,
throughout this long history (Payan d’Augery
1873 ; Poujade 1936 ), we can see realistic adaptations of the organization in pursuit of fi shing
activities, and, more recently, aquaculture and
some coastal management of the different littoral
areas (Alegret 1999 ).
H.-J. Ceccaldi et al. (eds.), Marine Productivity: Perturbations and Resilience of Socio-ecosystems,
DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-13878-7_32, © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2015
Abstract
Fishermen on the French Mediterranean coasts are assembled in old and
original collectives called prud’homies and follow their own rules. The
individuals in charge of these areas, the prud’hommes, manage coastal
fi shing areas, act as auxiliary police, settle disputes between members,
participate in the regulation of the use of coastal areas, and have an important social infl uence. They take into account the evolution of available
short- and medium-term resources and set rules that are accepted by all
fi shermen in the collective.
C. Decugis (*)
9 avenue de la Fontaine , 83700 Saint-Raphaël , France
Prud’homie des Pêcheurs de Saint-Raphaël ,
14 avenue Commandant Guilbaud ,
83700 Saint-Raphaël , France
e-mail: chris.decugis@gmail.com
Mediterranean Prud’homies
Christian Decugis
1
Introduction
The Mediterranean fi shing communities periodically elect representatives called ‘prud’hommes’
to organize and sustain fi shing in the territory in
which they practice their profession.
A ‘prud’homme’ is a person with extensive
experience in and knowledge of the fi shing techniques and the people who practice this activity.
He is a wise man with impeccable morals who is
elected by his peers. The ‘prud’homme’ is selected
from the older generation: he must have been a
professional fi sherman for at least 10 years and a
skipper for at least 5 years. He must take an oath
before the administrative authorities, which
refl ects an individual commitment rather than an act
of a higher maritime authority. There are no written laws: the oral tradition prevails.
The ‘Prud’homies’ system has spanned the
centuries, as attested by the contents of old
archives: patent letters of King René and kings of
France since the fi fteenth century; the Decree of
the Constituent Assembly in 1792 recognized the
merits of prud’homies of Marseille and Cassis
and authorized others to create prud’homies ports
on this model; the 1859 Decree that still governs
the operation of such meetings. It is likely that,
throughout this long history (Payan d’Augery
1873 ; Poujade 1936 ), we can see realistic adaptations of the organization in pursuit of fi shing
activities, and, more recently, aquaculture and
some coastal management of the different littoral
areas (Alegret 1999 ).