12. Governability of Small-Scale Lobster Fisheries in the Wider Caribbean

Lobster fisheries in the Wider Caribbean region offer an interesting case for governance analysis. From the onset, these fisheries have been exclusively developed for the export market and have generated considerable foreign exchange and extensive livelihood opportunities. While the development of the fishery in the region took place in a similar period (between the 1950s and 1960s) with a similar end market (mainly trade to the US), and the lobster species harvested is identical throughout the region, the governance modes employed in different countries can be quite diverse. This results in differences in exploitation of the resource, value chain of the fishery and well-being of the fisheries. However, these factors will also in turn influence governance and governability. This chapter will analyze the implications of different governing modes in three countries, Belize, Jamaica and Nicaragua, on small-scale lobster fisheries. Specifically, it looks at the commonalties and variances in the governance system and system to be governed of lobster fisheries in the three countries, as well as the developments that underlie these differences and similarities. The chapter shows that the diversity in fisheries call for particularistic governing systems, and also that their diversity is actually the result of different governing modes. The governance mode and diversity of system-to-be-governed are linked by interactive relationships, and understanding the bi-directional interactions between them is crucial in order to improve governability and the wellbeing of fishers and by extension the wider society. Governability assessment of the three fisheries shows that the co-governance governance mode of Belize, resulting in a fair system-to-be-governed and governing system is most appropriate.