Rethinking Fisheries Governance

The Role of States and Meta-Governance

verfasst von: Dr. Hoang Viet Thang

Verlag: Springer International Publishing

Enthalten in: Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" , Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

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Über dieses Buch

This book explores how the state can foster collective action by fisher’s communities in fisheries management. It presents a different perspective from Elinor Ostrom’s classic work on the eight institutional conditions that foster collective action in natural resource management and instead emphasizes the role of the state in fisheries co-management, engaging a state-centric notion of ‘meta-governance’. It argues that first, the state is required to foster collective action by fishers; and secondly, that the current fisheries co-management arrangements are state-centric. The study develops these arguments through the analysis of three case studies in Japan, Vietnam and Norway. The author also makes a theoretical contribution to governance literature by developing Ostrom’s ‘society-centric’ framework in a way which makes it more amenable to the analysis of state capacity and government intervention in a comparative context. This book will appeal to students and scholars of global governance, fisheries management, co-management, and crisis management, as well as practitioners of fisheries management.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Frontmatter

Chapter 1. Introduction

Abstract

This book has seven chapters. This chapter sets out the key definitions explored in the research, such as institutions, power and co-management. It provides an overview of current debates in fisheries governance and co-management arrangements, and then it discusses the focus and structure of the book.

Hoang Viet Thang

Chapter 2. Critiques of Ostrom’s Approach: A View from Fisheries Governance

Abstract

This chapter provides a review of the eight institutional conditions outlined by Ostrom. By analysing these, it shows that they are society-centric and underestimate the capacity of the state in working with resource users. The chapter presents its central argument that the state is an important contributory factor in fostering the success of collective action in common pool resource management and concludes that it is necessary to bring the state back in. Therefore it is widely relevant to introduce the concept of meta-governance into managing common pool resources in association with Ostrom’s conditions.

Hoang Viet Thang

Chapter 3. The Fisheries Co-management Approach: Critiques and Theoretical Framework of the Research

Abstract

This chapter provides a critical analysis of co-management scholars’ thinking on the role of the state. In doing so, it refers to the definition of power by Dahl, in which “A has power over B to the extent that he can get B to do something that B would not otherwise do.” The chapter then discusses state capacities in order to challenge the view that the state is equal with other actors in fisheries co-management arrangements. Based on critiques of Ostrom’s approach, co-management scholars’ thinking and the state-centric concept of meta-governance, it produces a research framework to investigate three selected case studies in fisheries co-management in Japan, Vietnam and Norway.

Hoang Viet Thang

Chapter 4. Akita Fisheries Cooperative Associations, Japan

Abstract

This chapter explores the high level of uncertainty of fish stocks by investigating the sandfish stock decline of the late 1980s in Akita, Japan. It supports the argument that the uncertainty of fish stocks is often beyond capacity of fishing communities to cope with. Therefore help from the state can be crucial. During the crisis of 1991, sandfish stock experienced a huge drop from more than 20,000 metric tons in the 1960s to a mere 74 metric tons in 1984. This adds a point to Ostrom’s eight conditions: that a crucial input for fisheries governance is that fish stocks should not be overfished and depleted. The state can help with this. The chapter provides an analysis of the dynamic interactions between the state and the associations. In doing this, it aims to show that in fisheries co-management the relationship between the associations and the state is not an equal one in terms of resources. In other words, the co-management system is asymmetric.

Hoang Viet Thang

Chapter 5. Vinh Giang Fisheries Association, Vietnam

Abstract

This chapter focuses on answering a big question about meta-governance: whether a weak capacity state can still practise its meta-governance role. In this case, the state is challenged by shortages of resources, particularly expertise and scientific knowledge about the aquatic system of the lagoon waters. Accordingly, the state has involved the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations via the Integrated Management of Lagoons Project. This chapter’s central argument is that in fisheries co-management arrangements the state, even with weak capacities in terms of resources, can still play a central role in governance processes. This is supported by investigating to what extent local governments have successfully implemented their policy on reducing and rearranging fishing gear in Tam Giang Lagoon, Vietnam, particularly at Vinh Xuan Commune, by working with Vinh Giang Fisheries Association since early 2000s.

Hoang Viet Thang

Chapter 6. The Norwegian Fishers’ Association, Norway

Abstract

This chapter continues to explore the high level of uncertainty regarding fish stocks by investigating the Norwegian state’s response to the cod crisis in 1989. In this context, the Individual Vessel Quota (IVQ) system was introduced in 1990. By investigating the policy process of the IVQ, the chapter provides an analysis of the dynamic interactions between the state and the Norwegian Fishers’ Association (NFA). The introduction of IVQs marks a start of new fisheries co-management in which the NFA is no longer the only representative of the industry but has to compete with other actors. This finding shows that in fisheries governance, the state often has the capacity to bring new actor(s) into the network for meta-governance purposes. The chapter claims that in fisheries co-management the relation between the FA and the state is not an equal one in terms of authority. Instead the state often plays a central role.

Hoang Viet Thang

Chapter 7. Conclusion

Abstract

This chapter concludes the research presented in preceding chapters by emphasizing that the state is the only feasible authority able to carry out its meta-governance functions in fisheries management. Through its significant support for fishers’ collective action, in co-management arrangements the role of the state remains crucial. The involvement of fishers as a group of resource users does not mean that the role of the state should be reduced to be an equal actor with the former. Rather, the state should adopt a meta-governance role to ensure that the governance operates efficiently with sustainable outcomes. The chapter draws together key findings from the research: first, co-management scholars have underestimated the capacities of the state in supporting fishing communities; secondly, state capacities matter in promoting collective action; and thirdly, the co-management arrangements are not polycentric, but state-centric.

Hoang Viet Thang

Backmatter

Titel: Rethinking Fisheries Governance
verfasst von: Dr. Hoang Viet Thang
Verlag: Springer International Publishing
Electronic ISBN: 978-3-319-61055-9
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-61054-2
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-61055-9