247
13 Gender in Galician Shell-Fisheries: Transforming for Governability
who gathered shell fi sh before the 1990s described themselves as housewives when
asked about their occupation (Sequeiros 1995 ) . The introduction of a shell fi sh
license had no clear effect on shell fi sh activity and did not prevent the overexploitation of stocks. Women in possession of licenses, as well as those without any documentation, competed for the same resources, often resulting in con fl icts that were
sometimes “resolved” with physical aggression.
Law 59/69 was the fi rst attempt to organize shell fi shing. It was, however, met
with strong opposition. The coastal population perceived the sea as a free access
space and shell fi sh as a common resource that could be gathered by all. In 1970, a
shell fi shing plan was devised by the State. Resource management, however, still
constituted a signi fi cant problem, a factor re fl ected in the diminished production of
clams and cockles in the 1980s (Consellería de Pesca Marisqueo e Acuicultura
1993 ) . Neither the cofradías nor the national government were interested in a nonprofessional fi shery practiced by housewives and, in some sense, the government
ignored their responsibilities in shell fi sh resource management.
The political change in Spain following the end of the dictatorship in the late
1970s led to the creation of powerful regional governments with the capacity to
legislate coastal shell fi shing areas, and was therefore a key factor in improving the
situation. The democratization process modi fi ed “the administrative structure of the
country and distributed new competencies to the regions ( autonomías )” (Frangoudes
et al. 2008b , 226). Regions were autonomous and had the competency to intervene
in many public policies within their territory, fi shing activity being one of them.
Since 1982, regional fi sheries authorities have regulated fi shing activities that take
place within their inland waters ( rías , bays, etc.) (Suárez de Vivero and Frieyro de
Lara 1997 ; Suárez de Vivero et al. 1997 ) . This case provides a good example of the
subsidiarity principle in that the proximity of the regional government to the con fl icts
rendered it, to a certain extent, more capable of improving the governability of the
sector. Moreover, the regional government created a speci fi c ministry to manage
fi sheries, aquaculture, and shell fi shing.
Main Regional Legal Framework on Shell fi sh Gathering
From 1985 onwards, regional fi sheries authorities made several attempts to reinforce existing regulations by introducing a number of new laws: Law 2/1985 on
February 2nd, concerning the Regulation of Maritime Fishing in the Waters of
the Regional Government of Galicia; Law 15/1985 on August 23rd, concerning
the Regulation of Shell fi shing and Aquaculture; Decree 116/1987,
8 regulating the
requirements for shell fi shing; Law 6/93 on May 11th, concerning fi sheries in
8 Decree 116/1987, on May 14th, of the regional government of Galicia established new requirements for obtaining a shell fi shing license. It was now necessary to follow a training course; this
marked a turning-point for the professionalization of shell fi shing in Galicia.
13 Gender in Galician Shell-Fisheries: Transforming for Governability
who gathered shell fi sh before the 1990s described themselves as housewives when
asked about their occupation (Sequeiros 1995 ) . The introduction of a shell fi sh
license had no clear effect on shell fi sh activity and did not prevent the overexploitation of stocks. Women in possession of licenses, as well as those without any documentation, competed for the same resources, often resulting in con fl icts that were
sometimes “resolved” with physical aggression.
Law 59/69 was the fi rst attempt to organize shell fi shing. It was, however, met
with strong opposition. The coastal population perceived the sea as a free access
space and shell fi sh as a common resource that could be gathered by all. In 1970, a
shell fi shing plan was devised by the State. Resource management, however, still
constituted a signi fi cant problem, a factor re fl ected in the diminished production of
clams and cockles in the 1980s (Consellería de Pesca Marisqueo e Acuicultura
1993 ) . Neither the cofradías nor the national government were interested in a nonprofessional fi shery practiced by housewives and, in some sense, the government
ignored their responsibilities in shell fi sh resource management.
The political change in Spain following the end of the dictatorship in the late
1970s led to the creation of powerful regional governments with the capacity to
legislate coastal shell fi shing areas, and was therefore a key factor in improving the
situation. The democratization process modi fi ed “the administrative structure of the
country and distributed new competencies to the regions ( autonomías )” (Frangoudes
et al. 2008b , 226). Regions were autonomous and had the competency to intervene
in many public policies within their territory, fi shing activity being one of them.
Since 1982, regional fi sheries authorities have regulated fi shing activities that take
place within their inland waters ( rías , bays, etc.) (Suárez de Vivero and Frieyro de
Lara 1997 ; Suárez de Vivero et al. 1997 ) . This case provides a good example of the
subsidiarity principle in that the proximity of the regional government to the con fl icts
rendered it, to a certain extent, more capable of improving the governability of the
sector. Moreover, the regional government created a speci fi c ministry to manage
fi sheries, aquaculture, and shell fi shing.
Main Regional Legal Framework on Shell fi sh Gathering
From 1985 onwards, regional fi sheries authorities made several attempts to reinforce existing regulations by introducing a number of new laws: Law 2/1985 on
February 2nd, concerning the Regulation of Maritime Fishing in the Waters of
the Regional Government of Galicia; Law 15/1985 on August 23rd, concerning
the Regulation of Shell fi shing and Aquaculture; Decree 116/1987,
8 regulating the
requirements for shell fi shing; Law 6/93 on May 11th, concerning fi sheries in
8 Decree 116/1987, on May 14th, of the regional government of Galicia established new requirements for obtaining a shell fi shing license. It was now necessary to follow a training course; this
marked a turning-point for the professionalization of shell fi shing in Galicia.