Ethical considerations for research on small‐scale fisheries and blue crimes

Satizábal, Paula; Billon, Philippe Le; Belhabib, Dyhia; Saavedra-Díaz, Lina M.; Figueroa, Isabela; Noriega, Gina; Bennett, Nathan

doi:10.1111/faf.12590

Cited by 12 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 62 publications

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“…Several studies have shown the detrimental effects of the IUU fishing discourse on SSF (e.g. Hauck, 2008; Saputra, 2020;Satizábal et al, 2021; Song et al, 2020). Firstly, its generalist sense disregards the diversity, legitimacy and sustainability of SSF and their governance systems.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reframing illegal fishing in small‐scale fisheries as a wicked problem

et al. 2023

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Wicked problems are typically social justice and social change problems, complex and messy. They mobilize opposed views about the essential nature of the issues, their relative importance and adequate responses. We assert that illegal fishing in small-scale fisheries (SSF) can be considered a wicked problem and our aim is to test this assertion. We relied on a conceptual framework that defines wicked problems as (1) indefinable and non-generalizable, (2) ambiguously bounded, (3) temporally exacting, (4) repercussive, (5) doubly hermeneutic and (6) morally consequential.We applied a qualitative research approach based on field data comprising three illustrative Chilean SSF, whereas secondary data complemented the analysis. The results demonstrate that illegal fishing fits most of the requirements of a wicked policy problem. It is indefinable and non-generalizable, with different representations and uncertainty about its nature, magnitude and effects. Depictions of the nature of the problem varied from a lack of regulations' legitimacy, to a 'combat' to be won. It is ambiguously bounded, caused by interrelated sub-problems (e.g. poverty, access), involving multiple policy sectors, administrative scales and actors. It is also temporally exacting and repercussive as it lacks criteria to prove that a solution has been reached and the implications of alternative solutions (e.g. self-regulation) are unknown. As long as illegal fishing is reframed as a wicked problem, the stakeholders involved can also recognize that there are no perfect solutions and therefore promote a mix of substandard governance approaches.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reframing illegal fishing in small‐scale fisheries as a wicked problem

et al. 2023

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“…Globally, small-scale fishers experience material, political, ecological, and social challenges (Barbesgaard, 2018;Bavinck et al, 2018) including organised crime (Witbooi et al, 2020), blue crime (Satizábal et al, 2021) such as criminal activities including sea-piracy, robbery, illegal fishing, dumping toxic materials, and drug trafficking in the sea. Displacement due to industrial 'extractivist' in the form of large-scale development in coasts (Acosta, 2013) and aquaculture expansion (Adduci 2009;Bogadóttir 2020), blue growth threats (Barbesgaard 2018;Bennett et al, 2021) cause fisheries injustice (Mills, 2018), recently, termed as epistemic injusticetestimonial and hermeneutical (Schreiber et al, 2022).…”

Section: Ssf and Historical Trends Of Strugglementioning

confidence: 99%

Blue Economy, Blue Growth, Social Equity and Small-scale Fisheries: A Global and National Level Review

Das¹

2023

SSSR

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One of the most promising economic arenas in the coming decades is the ocean and there are currently numerous initiatives to the ‘blue economy’ discourse that revolves around the argument that small-scale fishers’ livelihoods require greater attention. To synthesize current scientific knowledge and address prevailing research gaps surrounding this discourse, I conduct a scoping review of global literature on the blue economy, blue growth, social equity, and Small-Scale Fisheries (SSF) analyse different international policy papers and national-level blue economy plans. To explore the need for further research, this review focuses on how different aspects of the blue economy risks lead to inequity in the pursuit of ocean sustainability. Based on the initial content analysis, I identify evidence for undermining social equity and justice related to the ocean and find that social equity is often overlooked in national-level blue economy and blue growth initiatives. This overlooking leads to or accelerates processes of coastal and ocean grabbing, displacement, dispossession, and exclusion which strongly impact the livelihoods of marginalized coastal communities, particularly, small-scale fishers in various parts of the world. The collected evidence suggests that there is a missing link between international policy deliberations and national-level implementation plans in the blue economy context. Numerous studies claim that critical re-thinking of policies is required to ensure the sustainability of blue economy trajectories. Unchecked economic growth in the ocean as in other realms can reinforce inequities and unjust and inequitable resource distribution patterns. To pre-empt, mitigate, and resolve likely conflicts, deeper insights are needed to address the impacts of the blue economy and blue growth on coastal livelihoods. I suggest investigating the causes of conflict and further research on how governance responds to sustain small-scale fisheries while embracing the blue economy and blue growth agendas.

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“…Illegal fishing refers to fishing activities that violate existing laws, such as fishing in foreign waters without permission and activities that do not abide by regulations of the Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs) that the state under which the vessel operates has to follow, or by other international or national legislation. Illegal fishing is often linked to other forms of 'fish crimes' (crimes related to the fishing sector, including labour abuses, document fraud, smuggling and money laundering, see Belhabib, Le Billon and Wrathall 2020;INTERPOL 2020), though we caution against framing all illegal fishing activities as organised crime (Satizábal et al 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%