Research
The Fishers of the Pedro Bank, Jamaica: Through the Lens of their Livelihoods
The complex lives of fishermen are generally not understood outside of the fishing community. The Pedro Bank, the island’s primary fishing area is 80 km south of Jamaica and is source to the largest export of Queen Conch from the Caribbean. Using 154 structured interviews, the mechanisms by which the Pedro fishers, construct their livelihoods derived on the Banks were examined. For the estimated 150 to 1200 Fishers, decision to settle on respective Cays, method of fishing and use of resources from Pedro Bank fishing were all determined by place of origin on mainland Jamaica. 85% of fishers on North East Cay were from rural communities while 65% of Fishers on Middle Cay were from urban communities. 56% of rural fishers and 65% of urban fishers had never fished before arriving at Pedro. Behavioral dynamics and livelihood strategies of the Pedro Bank fishers are critical in developing future management plans.
The Use of Select Writing across the Curriculum Strategies and their Impact on Science Studentsa Attitude to Writing
This study describes the differences in students’ attitudes to writing before and after the use of writing to learn [WTL] and learning to write [LTW] strategies in the delivery of their respective courses. Results reveal that students who had been exposed to LTW strategies display a significantly less favourable attitude to writing than those who had engaged in WTL activities. Further, both LTW and WTL groups are significantly less favourably disposed to writing after engaging in their respective strategies. The impact which the lack of congruence between writing activities, course assessment and outcomes may possibly have on these results is discussed. Recommendations are made as to how to improve student attitude to writing through greater alignment with assessment and objectives. Future directions for research are discussed.
