66 variate and positively contributes to perceived value of projects assessing only
responses of individuals that evaluate at least one ongoing project. Individuals’ perception of ongoing projects is also a predictor of willingness to participate in
proposed projects analyzing only individuals that evaluated at least one livelihood project.
4.4. Participant Observation and Key Informant Interviews
The following information was taken from data gathered using the methods of participant observation and key informant interviews Pollnac 1988, Pollnac and
Crawford 2000. Relevant data were used to further explain significant factors identified in the statistical analysis above. Specifically, this exploration will address
perceived value of proposed projects, attitudes toward fishing, damage to productive and material goods, fatalistic thinking and perceived value of ongoing
projects.
4.4.1. Perceived value of proposed projects
Data from key informants and participant observation support the idea that individuals value projects based on their knowledge, skills, and access to
productive materials in addition to monetary income. For example, one of the proposed projects in Village 7 was catfish farming. In order to participate in this
project, individuals attended numerous coordination and informational meetings that did not provide any monetary reward. One of the attendees stated that learning
how to raise catfish was an important reason for his participation. He was aware
67 that as part of the project, the funding agency would donate some of the equipment
and infrastructure needed to start the process and provide training in catfish hatchery spawning. The interviewee mentioned that if the formal project failed, he
could continue to practice catfish spawning because the productive materials would be there and he would have the skills from training.
4.4.2. Attitudes toward fishing
Replacement of fishing gear facilitates rehabilitation access to income for a household. Therefore, residents may view the occupation positively if re-entry into
fishing is facilitated by donations. Numerous outside donors both domestic and international pledged to give boats to fishermen whose boats were damaged by the
tsunami. In Suk-Sumran, the local government compiled a list of households that had lost a boat andor gear for distribution to donors. However, this list was not
coordinated by any single entity. Therefore, families received duplicate replacement boats andor gear. One key informant stated that he was using a
replacement boat donated to him from an outside donor. Another donor also promised him a boat. Therefore, he said that he would give the second boat to his
son for him to begin fishing on his own. This situation allows easy entrance of former fishermen back into the capture fishery because their productive materials
are replaced. In addition, former fishermen already have experience and skills to restart their occupation and contribute to food and income for their households.
In addition, many of the proposed projects could be practiced in combination with fishing and thus, not perceived as a tradeoff to replace fishing. In
68 many cases, both the male and female heads of a household practiced at least one
type of livelihood. For example, one proposed project was raising goats. This activity was already practiced by families in the study area and often women and
children would attend to the goats. This responsibility was often in addition to another occupation or attending school for children. Residents also wanted to
generate as much income as possible in the aftermath of the tsunami in order to return to the style of life that they enjoyed before the disaster occurred. At the time
of the survey, daily rains and choppy seas prevented or inhibited fishing offshore. During this time of year, fishermen often fished in the canals and mangrove areas,
providing them with more time to participate in other livelihood projects. Therefore, positive attitudes toward fishing could be correlated with greater
willingness to participate in projects because individuals intend to do as many projects to generate income and food as possible in order to aid recovery of their
household.
4.4.3. Damage to Productive and Material Goods
