Co-Management of Small-Scale Fisheries in Chile From a Network Governance Perspective

Abstract

We examine decision-making, shared authority, and pluralism as key characteristics for the effective co-management of natural resources. Drawing on the concept of network governance, we complement this approach by studying localized practices of governance that support existing and compensate for missing aspects in the regulation. The regime of territorial use rights for fisheries (TURF) in Chile is a recognized example of large-scale co-management that has given rise to local organizations that manage and exploit benthic resources. Based on multi-sited qualitative fieldwork across five regions, we analyze practices with respect to two governance objects: the deterrence of illegal fishing and the periodic assessment of the fisheries’ biology fields. Our analysis shows that local fisher organizations have institutionalized informal practices of surveillance and monitoring to fill in the gaps of existing regulations. Although fisher organizations and consultants—the so-called management and exploitation areas for benthic resources (AMERB)—have managed to operate the TURF regime, they depend on the government to enforce regulations and receive public subsidies to cover the costs of delegated governance tasks. We suggest that governance effectiveness could benefit from delegating additional authority to the local level. This would enhance the supervision of productive areas and better adaptation of national co-management regulations to the specific geographical context.

Integrating human and ecological dimensions: The importance of stakeholders’ perceptions and participation on the performance of fisheries co-management in Chile

“…In general, the MEABR system has continually evolved and adapted to a new socio-ecological reality [ 81 ]. Adaptation is vital if the MEABR system is to be successful in the long term [ 42 ].…”

“…Their low profits are also affected by poaching (whether by outsiders, non-unionized fishers, or even by members). Poaching is one of the main factors influencing the scarcity of the target resource and one of the most critical problem perceived by fishers [ 77 , 79 , 81 , 106 , 127 , 128 ]. Thus, ignoring illegal activity outcomes in false conclusions (over- and under-representation) about the state and trends of fisheries; it also adds to the increased costs associated with surveillance and reduced income for fishers [ 78 ].…”

“…This will also have a bearing on how to reduce conflicts and strengthen social networks within the context of a more comprehensive planning of the system. One recent work [ 81 ] concluded that if fishers’ organizations and consultants take as little part in the collective decision-making process as they have so far, it is unlikely that the necessary adjustments will be made to the system. Indeed, the different viewpoints of more men and women regarding management should be taken into account, in order to obtain a better understanding of the social interaction of women in an activity traditionally considered to be male-dominated [ 67 , 82 – 84 ].…”

Network Governance at the Margin of the State: Rural Drinking Water Communities in Chile

“…Decision making in networks can lead to effective and sustainable outcomes when found legitimate by others. Especially in conflicting and uncertain environments legitimate decisions are crucial (Adger et al 2005 ; Höhl et al 2021 ; Albornoz and Glückler 2020 ; Steelman et al 2021 ). Legitimacy refers to what people regard as acceptable and appropriate, and it represents a key principle for institutions to be stable over time (Human and Provan 2000 ; Bathelt and Glückler 2014 ; Sandström et al 2014 ).…”

Fish and fisheries dynamics at Banc d'Arguin, Mauritania: consequences for the intertidal food webs

“…Increasingly, the use of catch share programs is argued for in these systems, for example using the economic tool of individual transferable quotas or ITQs (Scheld & Anderson, 2014;Acheson, Apollonio & Wilson, 2015). Emerging management approaches of community-based fisheries (comanagement) with shared governance authority was developed as an alternative to the unsuccessful conventional management methods in artisanal fisheries (Albornoz & Glückler, 2020). In the context of a national park, it is especially relevant to look wider than the targeted fish species alone, and a holistic ecosystem-based management approach has become the main reference framework for fisheries governance which should be applied also in this protected national park.…”