학술논문
Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon. Les mutations d'une économie insulaire
Document Type
article
Author
Source
Annales de Géographie 79(436):657-688
Subject
Language
French
ISSN
0003-4010
Abstract
Les îles Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, peuplées seulement d'un peu plus de 5 000 habitants, jouent cependant un rôle politique et culturel important du fait quelles constituent le seul territoire français en Amérique du Nord. Leur fonction originelle, celle de station de pêche sur les bancs de Terre-Neuve, continue de servir de pilier à l'économie insulaire, malgré certaines transformations. D'une part on constate une diminution des prises proprement dites, due à la raréfaction du poisson, à la désuétude des moyens de pêche, et à une augmentation des services portuaires offerts aux navires étrangers, ainsi que des moyens de stockage et de transformation du poisson. Par ailleurs, on assiste à une diversification de l'économie grâce au développement de deux autres activités : une station de quarantaine pour les bœufs charolais, à l'usage des importateurs canadiens, et le tourisme. Malgré tout, il s'agit de ressources limitées dont l'exploitation et le développement sont conditionnés par l'enclavement du Territoire. Enclavement géographique d'abord : l'archipel est mal relié à la France et au Canada et son infrastructure intérieure est embryonnaire. Enclavement monétaire ensuite, du fait que la majorité des importations des Iles proviennent du Canada, donc de la zone dollar. Il en résulte que le Territoire ne peut vivre sans une aide monétaire substantielle de la part de la Métropole : fonds de compensation, subventions d'équilibre... Toutefois, les problèmes financiers pourraient bien être réglés si les projets de développement touristique, élaborés par des financiers nord-américains, se concrétisaient un jour.
Saint-Pierre and Miquelon. Changes in an island economy. The islands of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, with a population of only slightly over 5 000 inhabitants, have nevertheless an important political and cultural role to play, on account of the fact that they are the only French territory in North America. Their original function, that of a fishing station on the Banks'of Newfoundland, continues to serve as a bulwark for the islands' economy despite some changes. On the one hand, a decrease may be noted in the fishing catch as such, due to the growing scarcity of fish and to the obsolescence of the fishing equipment ; on the other hand, one may note the improvement of the port facilities offered to foreign ships, as well as an enlargement of the fish-storage and processing facilities. Moreover, some diversification of the economy is taking place, thanks to the development of two other activities : a quarantaine station for Charolais cattle imported from France on their way to Canada, and tourism. However, these are small-scale activities, whose exploitation and development are limited by the Territory's isolation. A geographic isolation, in the first place : the islands have poor connections with France and Canada and their internal transport network is embryonic. Secondly, a monetary isolation, since most of the islands' imports come from Canada, and therefore from the dollar zone. As a result of this situation, the Territory cannot survive without substantial financial aid from the mother-country : compensation fund, subsidies to balance the local budget, etc. Nevertheless, the islands' financial problems could well be settled if plans for large-scale tourist development, drawn up by North American businessmen, were to materialize some day.
Saint-Pierre and Miquelon. Changes in an island economy. The islands of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, with a population of only slightly over 5 000 inhabitants, have nevertheless an important political and cultural role to play, on account of the fact that they are the only French territory in North America. Their original function, that of a fishing station on the Banks'of Newfoundland, continues to serve as a bulwark for the islands' economy despite some changes. On the one hand, a decrease may be noted in the fishing catch as such, due to the growing scarcity of fish and to the obsolescence of the fishing equipment ; on the other hand, one may note the improvement of the port facilities offered to foreign ships, as well as an enlargement of the fish-storage and processing facilities. Moreover, some diversification of the economy is taking place, thanks to the development of two other activities : a quarantaine station for Charolais cattle imported from France on their way to Canada, and tourism. However, these are small-scale activities, whose exploitation and development are limited by the Territory's isolation. A geographic isolation, in the first place : the islands have poor connections with France and Canada and their internal transport network is embryonic. Secondly, a monetary isolation, since most of the islands' imports come from Canada, and therefore from the dollar zone. As a result of this situation, the Territory cannot survive without substantial financial aid from the mother-country : compensation fund, subsidies to balance the local budget, etc. Nevertheless, the islands' financial problems could well be settled if plans for large-scale tourist development, drawn up by North American businessmen, were to materialize some day.