ANTHMETHGRP3-2425-MARK-MOFFAT

[Last modified: December, 6 2024 05:37 PM]

As we reach the end of the Methods module I’m reflecting on what I’ve learnt and how my pilot project has been adjusted. Whilst my pilot project will not be my Environmental Anthropology MSc dissertation it is an area of great interest for me so I did enjoy thinking about it.

My pilot project is:
“What is the changing shape of crew kinship in the small-scale fishing fleet of Whitby, North Yorkshire?”

In week 1 I didn’t really understand what a “research question” was in an anthropological context. Hence my week 1 pilot project set out a long list of questions which I had assumed would be part of semi-structured interviews, questionnaires, etc. with my interlocutors.

So week 2 started with my adjusting my research questions to simplify them down to just two: 1) To what extent are non-biological crew regarded as being kin or ‘family’? and 2) Which crew members are not deemed kin or ‘family’? In addition whilst at first I didn’t see how I could practice participant observation for my pilot project outside UCL. However, having spent time observing people in a park considering ‘what is kin’? I realised that whilst my focus had planned to be on whether non-biological kinship emerges from the close and stressful experiences in a ‘band of brothers’ such as a fishing crew I was forced to recognise that there is a continuum of relations and thus consider when non-biological kin is really just a friendship.

In week 3 I recognised my own positionality. This was manifest in various different ways – my own ‘stress’ experiences in the British Army, my age as a ‘student’ and my memories of growing up in the area. Whilst these are important considerations I didn’t feel they required a material change in my project.

In week 5 I considered the application of politics. UK fishing is a very contested political space given issues surrounding Brexit, subsidies, EU fishing boats, the history of the Cod Wars, migration, small boats, broken promises and half-truths. I anticipate this backdrop will colour the dialogue I will have with my interlocutors and indeed may make some unwilling to participate.

In week 6 & 7 I was able to consider how I write and what other modes of communication I can include in my write-up such as sound scapes. There may also be additional modes of research I can include in my project such as photo prompts perhaps of scenes of Whitby and fishing boats in previous decades.

I think on balance I learnt a considerable amount about what ethnography is and how I should conduct it taking due account of ethics and my positionality whilst integrating novel methods to draw out my interlocutors and present their stories. So a good module – thank you!

So it is sadly sunset over Whitby…

[Last modified: November, 29 2024 05:37 PM]

This week we discussed ethics and how we should approach ethical issues and approval for our fieldwork project. Both the lecture and seminar discussions were extremely useful both in guiding what type of fieldwork project we pursue and how we should construct our research to ensure appropriate safeguards and guardrails are put in place to ensure the protection of interlocutors and researcher.

This week my group considered a research proposal for the Ethics Committee as follows:
“Young women’s perceptions of breasts and breastfeeding:
This project explores the various and contradictory social messages about breasts and appropriate bodily behavior in the context of encouragement of breastfeeding, debates about public breastfeeding and the public sexualisation of breasts through advertising and other media. The research will involve interviews, group discussions and a questionnaire with (a) sixth-form students (aged 16-19) at two schools in London and (b) a mother-toddler group, in order to reveal young women’s perceptions of their breasts and bodies and their understanding of what shapes these perceptions.”

The proposal raised a considerable number of issues:
Ethical Issues: Firstly, this research should not be conducted by a man. Secondly we felt the minimum age of the school children should be raised to 18. We felt this would not materially impact the research output. Thirdly we were concerned by the ‘Group Discussion’ aspect of this project particularly in the context of school children as it raises questions of confidentiality and post project victimisation. Fourthly, consent should be written not verbal and all participants should be fully briefed on the range of topics that will be discussed in the interviews before a consent form is presented. Fifthly, for the interviews with the 18/19 year olds it may be advisable to have a third party such as a psychologist (not a parent) present during the interviews.

Data Protection: As a minimum the data should use pseudonyms but possibly anonymised may be preferable. If not fully anonymised and in any event the named data should be encrypted.

Power/Coercion: As stated above a man can not conduct this research even if accompanied. If the above criteria are followed we do not believe there should be a material concern in respect of power asymmetry and coercion.

Vulnerable Individuals: This topic is very sensitive. Individuals, particularly the school children, may have body dysmorphia or have experienced sexual harassment or assault and may be extremely uncomfortable discussing such a deeply personal subject. It is for this reason that group discussions seem inappropriate on this topic.

Appropriate Committee: We considered this medium to high risk. Even with the above proposed amendments it should still be deemed medium/high risk and referred to UCL REC.

In summary whilst the proposed project presents some material ethical challenges if the researcher follows the various suggestions above it could reasonably be presented UCL REC.

[Last modified: November, 22 2024 04:55 PM]

This week we spent time outside in a peri-urban space between the park and the road. We explored a range of ideas and created ‘An Ethnography of Winter’ this included, ‘cold’ maps of our heads, video, photos, and a collage sketch. We also explored representing the same object in a number of formats for example we took an etching of the textured wooden table and also photographed the grain of the same piece of wood.

Our facial cold maps were a two dimensional representation of our feelings of temperature and sunlight.

Having created an oval as a representation of our head, each member of the group added circles to indicate areas that were cold and crosses to indicate areas where the sun was striking through the leaves of the tree.

Our collage sketch featured a pigeon which we also videoed as well as abstract representations of the wind, sound and the metal rail fence that separated us from the lush evergreen vegetation of the park.

The pigeon was interesting because the static two dimensional sketch did not reveal the way the bird moved in staccato paces with its head-bobbing. The head-bobbing has two phases, A ‘Thrust Phase’ followed by a ‘Hold Phase’ and is apparently interesting from a biomechanics standpoint.
TIMG_3609he

There was also the sound of the wind and the sound of the traffic including a passing JCB!

The session helped me to think more broadly about how I can represent my fieldwork other than in a purely textual form. I was particularly interested in how representing the same thing in various modes revealed different aspects and characteristics of that thing. For example, surprisingly, our etching of the wooden table created a better representation of the three dimensionality of the wood’s grain than did the photograph. I think I would like to experiment more with using soundscapes, video, sketches, photos, maps, etchings, poetry, etc. to all represent that same thing. For example, a tree. This could take the form of both a diachronic and synchronic representation of its form, sound, shape, light and texture. When applied in an ethnographic context I believe this would give a truly holistic feeling of the subject.

I also found the concept of framing helpful and will reflect on how framing creates a postionality that is not evident without a wider context.

[Last modified: November, 15 2024 05:45 PM]

Seagulls screech overhead. They swirl and dive as I approach the fishing boat. The smell is overpowering, fish, shellfish, the sea, everything maritime. The boat is second from the harbour side so I traverse the gangplank to the first boat – balancing – the plank is wide but it’s unnerving nevertheless. My feet pick a way across the first boat, rope coils, lobster pots, cables, winches, wet everything wet. One boat to the next. I look down. Dark waters, scummy on the surface, weed, litter, foam, the colours of the rainbow traced in the sheen of diesel.

Ropes are thrown and the deep chug of the engine followed by the delicate nose of diesel we move away from stability. A gentle rock of the boat – my body adjusts to the rhythm. Past the other boats towards the harbour entrance. The rocking increases, not so gentle now – my body adjusts again. A small stagger as I try to synchronise my legs to the deck – soft knees I remember and eyes on the horizon. The wind picks up as we leave the harbour, spray splashes my face, salty, wet, the sharpness of cold water down the back of neck. I adjust my oilskins. It is cold but fresh and exhilarating, my mood lifts. This is what it’s about. This is man against nature – the noble fisherman!

Now we’re grabbing ropes. Wet ropes, serpentine coils, nets, buoys, all thrown overboard. So cold on the hands, “get some gloves man, you’ll rip the skin from your hands” as I drag the net to the side. Nausea. The swell is too much – my body is in revolt. I can’t adjust to the wallowing roll. I vomit. The crew laugh. I flush red despite the cold clamminess of my sickness. Can you be cold and clammy with sickness and hot and flushed with embarrassment at the same time? Apparently yes – the wonders of my body! “We’ve all been there mate”. I’m the rookie. I wretch, my stomach contracts again and again and again and again. Nothing left – farewell microbiome I think reflecting on ‘Gut Anthro’. I have no control over this body of mine. I steady myself. I’m an outsider here. The crew have their own routines, their own rhythm, often unspoken just done. Here there are no social norms there are fishing norms or really crew norms what happens here happens nowhere else, similar perhaps, but not the same. There is a kinship I think. But I know I really am not going to get much anthropology done today – a fish out of water or a lubber on a boat. I continue my participant observation of the sea as I bend over the side of the boat staring down – Captain Ahab I am not.

[Last modified: November, 5 2024 03:27 PM]

Politics…
UK Fishing has been contested political ground for many years from the Cod Wars of the 20th Century when the UK, Germany and Iceland deployed their navies to defend their own fishing vessels in disputed North Atlantic Waters. Then came the supposed “taking back control” of our waters from Europe in Brexit culminating in the French threatening to cut off electricity to the Channel Islands if their fishing boats were excluded from Channels Island waters. So I expect national and international politics to be very evident in my project however, I also expect there to be layered politics by which I mean there may be regional, local and community political issues. In addition to fishing specific issues there may be ancillary political issues such as migration, environmental policy, offshore energy policy, housing (Whitby is a very popular town for second home purchases) and tourism.
The project design does not include or assume any political issues per se although I’d expect my interlocutors to have strong political views in respect of the above issues.
Positionality…
I don’t think I bring any particular political baggage to the project. I don’t have strong views on the politics of UK fishing although I recognise that politics may have a significant impact on the views of the fishers of Whitby.
Political Implications…
It is quite possible that strong political views may emerge on aspects such as: fishing access, competition, immigration, subsidies, inheritance tax and housing. I think these views and opinions are integral to the project and will help ‘situate’ my enquiries into the changing shape of kinship on fishing vessels. Political aspects are fundamental to the attractiveness of the fishing industry and in particular the attractiveness of fishing in Whitby to the next generation and indeed how that has changed over time.
Methods…
I think plugging into the political sentiment of the industry is vital – attending trade body meetings, local political party hustings/meetings, union meetings, council meetings, etc. are essential to a successful project. Whilst some aspects will not directly impinge on the project the politics of the area and the industry provide the backdrop to the sentiments of my interlocutors. In addition understanding how politics have evolved over time will require some archival work to understand political sentiment at various historic elections – what aspects became more or less important to voters in the constituency over time.
So in summary politics will have deep and material impact on my pilot project.
I’m conscious that to date this blog may have failed to give the reader a feel for Whitby! So here are some Whitby lobster pots…

and some fishing boats!

[Last modified: October, 25 2024 05:56 PM]

A cavernous space. Echoes. Garbled announcements. Smells of stale food. Confused faces look up at screens. A strange stillness – an announcement – a rush. A riptide of humanity heads for the platform. Another pause.
“Pickpockets operate in this station”, uneasy looks at your neighbour. “24 CCTV operates in this station”. Everyone ‘operates’ apparently – but I suspect there is nothing medical going on.
“I can’t believe you’re still here before me!”, two women embrace. Old friends? They both have bags. Going on a journey together. They’re both here early so sit in Starbucks and have a chat, they share photographs from their phones. Smiles. Giggles. They sit close – good friends but probably not related.
A lady in a light blue trouser suit with maroon blouse looks at the timetable confused. She looks around and spots the help desk. She hurries over. An explanation – but clearly not satisfactory. Both helper and helpee are now confused.

Pink cowboy hats, the national uniform of the hen party, gather on the concourse. One hat is white – the bride to-be – the symbology of our culture is unmistakable.

The advertising hoardings are off. A blank board looms above the concourse – I remember there has been a national outrage that the station has converted the train timetable to an electronic ad hoarding – “JC Decaux” will get no revenue today.
But don’t worry there is an alternative use. A woman adjusts her hair in the mirrored surface.

A Deliveroo rider with his bike heads from the platform across the concourse out of the station. Then another. Then a Just Eat rider. Then an Uber Eats rider. The start of a shift. Suburban residents quite literally “get on their bike” (thank you Norman Tebbit) to make a living in the capital the start of the afternoon/evening/night shift.
Hugs. Farewells. Half-hearted waves. “Bye”.

[Last modified: October, 18 2024 05:16 PM]

This was interesting.  I’m not a fisherman and haven’t spent long periods of time with fishers nevertheless, the questions allowed me to focus on where my interest in the topic comes from and what preconceived opinions, expectations, biases and insights I bring to the project.

My project, in part, examines how non-biological kinship relations can be formed from very stressful situations, primarily amongst all male groups, and what role these may have in the broader community. Having spent some time in the military I have experienced this first hand and therefore my expectation is that I may find the same bonds formed amongst fishing crews. It is also coloured by my childhood as a regular visitor to Whitby where I watched the boats coming in and unloading their catch – as this was some 40yrs ago I undoubtedly also bring some ‘rose-tinted’ memories to the project!  In addition, I have anticipated all male fishing crews so I am bringing a gendered expectation of what I will encounter which may or not be the case. In addition it may be that even where crews are 100%, or predominantly, male that may not be relevant as the more important non-biological kinship relations may well be onshore amongst the partners of the fishers – providing mutual support and community integrity.

The final point I have considered is my own age – at 58 I am not a stereotypical student!  This may make my interlocators uncomfortable, incredulous or dismissive. There is a little I can do about this except to be aware.  Clearly for some people this may be a positive…

[Last modified: October, 11 2024 05:08 PM]

Firstly following the week 1 blog feedback I have reduced my Research question to just two, namely

1. To what extent are nonbiological crew regarded as being kin or “family”.
2. Which crew members are not deemed kin or “family”.

For the week 2 exercise the urban setting of UCL provided  no opportunity to conduct participant observation of fishing crews and clearly not of fishing crews in North Yorkshire. However, it did give me the space and time to explore the nature of relationships more broadly and the concept of kinship. I spent time observing the interactions between people. In particular close interactions between people who may or may not have been in a relationship.

I observed people in a coffee shop and in a park.

Whilst it was impossible to determine purely from observation the nature of the relationship between two people or groups of people the exercise was nevertheless useful. Prior to this exercise I had expected that my focus would be on the blurred lines between biological and nonbiological kinship. Particularly where bonds of camaraderie are formed in stressful situations such as war, hunting, exploration of harsh environments or, in the case of this project, fishing crews. Nonbiological kinship has been suggested by Marshall Sahlins as a “mutuality of being”. However, this exercise allowed me to observe friendships more broadly and therefore consider in the paradigm of nonbiological kinship where does kinship end.  For example the ‘bestie’ or the high school roommate who becomes a lifelong friend and the quasi-kinship relationships such as Godparents.

 

[Last modified: October, 10 2024 05:11 PM]

TOPIC:

“What is the changing shape of crew kinship in the small-scale fishing fleet of Whitby, North Yorkshire.”

The themes I am interested in studying are:

• How has kinship changed over time in the crews of small fishing boats?
• Are fishing vessels viewed as family endeavours and how has this changed over time?
• How do fishing skippers feel about crew recruitment strategies that do not rely on kinship relations?
• Why are kinship roles changing?
• Are younger generations still attracted to the fishing industry?
• What happens to family-owned fishing vessels when the next generation doesn’t want to inherit the family endeavour?
• What are the environmental consequences of local families leaving the fishing industry?
  1. Does this impact how Producer Organisations are allocating Fixed Quota Allocations (FQAs)?
  2. Are more FQAs being leased to larger commercial organisations?
• Are there implications for the Global South in the changing shape of crew kinship in the Global North.

I think the project is ethnographic in that it seeks to understand, in detail, generational kinship relations within a small defined community.

It is of importance because changes in kinship relations within the community may have implications that include, social cohesion within the community, environmental impacts from the transfer of quotas and an indication of future trends within the Global South.

QUESTIONS:

Research questions might include:

• To the ship’s captain:
  1. How do you select your crew members?
  2. What qualities do you look for in crew members?
  3. Are any of your crew related to you?
  4. How did your [father/brother/uncle/other] recruit his crew?
• To crew members:
  1. Do you generally know your fellow crewmates?
  2. Have you faced challenges working with [family/non-family] members?

METHODS:

• Participant observation of fishing families on shore.
• Participant observation of crews at sea.
• Interviews with retired fishers.
• Interviews with the partners of fishers.
• Participant observation at trade meetings, community gatherings, etc.

POTENTIAL FINDINGS:

• Crew kinship relations have decreased over time.
• Crews are increasingly made-up of employees outside the kinship group.
• Fishing is no longer a desirable industry for younger generations.
• Retiring fishers are selling their vessels and equipment outside familial relations and potentially outside the local community.
• Fishing Fixed Quota Allocations are increasingly being leased outside local communities and outside Producer Organisations.

[Last modified: October, 1 2024 06:15 PM]

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