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Limits of governability: Institutional implications for fisheries and coastal governance

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  • Jentoft, Svein

Abstract

Drawing on some recent developments in so-called "interactive governance theory", it is argued that fisheries and coastal governance is basically a relationship between two systems, which could be termed a "governing system" and a "system-to-be-governed." The former system is social: it is made up of institutions and steering mechanisms. The latter system is partly natural, partly social: it consists of an ecosystem and the resources that it harbors, as well as a system of users and stakeholders who form political coalitions and institutions among themselves. Obviously, we need to be concerned with the relationship and interaction between the governing system and the system-to-be-governed, which forms a system in its own right. According to governance theory, these systems share similar structural attributes: they are diverse, complex, dynamic and vulnerable. In order for governance to work they must somehow be compatible, in order to be mutually responsive. This is not a matter of natural mechanism but of institutional design by societal actors such as legislative bodies, planning agencies and civic organizations--alone, or in concert. What conditions, mechanisms and institutions are conducive to creating a better rapport between the governing system and the system-to-be-governed? Before we can start this discussion, we need to rethink our basic assumptions of what governance is, what governors do, and what we can expect from governance. How do we get from where we are now to where we want to be? In order to accomplish this we need something other than an instrumental, rational model. We need "a technology of foolishness" that emphasizes institutional experimentation and learning by doing.

Suggested Citation

  • Jentoft, Svein, 2007. "Limits of governability: Institutional implications for fisheries and coastal governance," Marine Policy, Elsevier, vol. 31(4), pages 360-370, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:marpol:v:31:y:2007:i:4:p:360-370
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    Cited by:

    1. Voyer, Michelle & Gollan, Natalie & Barclay, Kate & Gladstone, William, 2015. "‘It׳s part of me’; understanding the values, images and principles of coastal users and their influence on the social acceptability of MPAs," Marine Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 93-102.
    2. Fernández-Vidal, Duarte & Muiño, Ramón, 2014. "Fact or fiction? Assessing governance and co-management of Marine Reserves of Fishing Interest in Cedeira and Lira (NW Spain)," Marine Policy, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 15-22.
    3. García-Rivera, Santiago & Sánchez Lizaso, Jose Luis & Bellido Millán, Jose María, 2015. "A quantitative and qualitative assessment of the discard ban in European Mediterranean waters," Marine Policy, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 149-158.
    4. Pittman, Jeremy & Armitage, Derek, 2019. "Network Governance of Land-Sea Social-Ecological Systems in the Lesser Antilles," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 157(C), pages 61-70.
    5. Rasheed, A. Rifaee, 2020. "Marine protected areas and human well-being – A systematic review and recommendations," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 41(C).
    6. Elizabeth OLMOS-MARTINEZ & Gonzalo RODRIGUEZ-RODRIGUEZ & Silvia SALAS & Alfredo ORTEGA-RUBIO, 2018. "Impact Of The Implementation Of A Protected Area On The Well-Being Of A Rural Community In Baja California Sur," Regional and Sectoral Economic Studies, Euro-American Association of Economic Development, vol. 18(2), pages 5-22.
    7. Victor Mawutor Agbo & Larry Swatuk, 2023. "From conflict to collaboration: Atewa Forest governance," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 47(1), pages 134-151, February.
    8. Kahmann, Birte & Stumpf, Klara Helene & Baumgärtner, Stefan, 2015. "Notions of justice held by stakeholders of the Newfoundland fishery," Marine Policy, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 37-50.
    9. Ratamäki, Outi. & Jokinen, Pekka. & Sorensen, Peter. & Breeze, Tom. & Potts, Simon., 2015. "A multilevel analysis on pollination-related policies," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 14(C), pages 133-143.
    10. Standal, Dag & Hersoug, Bjørn, 2014. "Back to square one? Fisheries allocation under pressure," Marine Policy, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 236-245.
    11. Das, Jewel & Kabir, Md. Humayain & Taimur, Faiz Md & Hossain, Mohammed & Kumar, Uttam, 2022. "Evaluating governability challenges of Saint Martin’s Island (SMI) in Bangladesh," World Development Perspectives, Elsevier, vol. 27(C).
    12. Eriksson, Hampus & Conand, Chantal & Lovatelli, Alessandro & Muthiga, Nyawira A. & Purcell, Steven W., 2015. "Governance structures and sustainability in Indian Ocean sea cucumber fisheries," Marine Policy, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 16-22.
    13. Joseph Luomba & Ratana Chuenpagdee & Andrew M. Song, 2016. "A Bottom-Up Understanding of Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing in Lake Victoria," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(10), pages 1-14, October.
    14. Derkyi, Mercy & Ros-Tonen, Mirjam A.F. & Kyereh, Boateng & Dietz, Ton, 2013. "Emerging forest regimes and livelihoods in the Tano Offin Forest Reserve, Ghana: Implications for social safeguards," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 32(C), pages 49-56.
    15. Herrera-Racionero, Paloma & Lizcano-Fernández, Emmánuel & Miret-Pastor, Lluís, 2015. "“Us” and “them”. Fishermen from Gandía and the loss of institutional legitimacy," Marine Policy, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 130-136.
    16. Maria‐Victoria Solstrand, 2013. "Marine angling tourism in Norway and Iceland: Finding balance in management policy for sustainability," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 37(2), pages 113-126, May.
    17. Barnes, Michele L. & Arita, Shawn & Kalberg, Kolter & Leung, PingSun, 2017. "When does it pay to cooperate? Strategic information exchange in the harvest of common-pool fishery resources," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 1-11.
    18. Song, Andrew, 2018. "Reconstructing Governability: How Fisheries Are Made Governable," MarXiv zavwc, Center for Open Science.
    19. Di Lucia, Lorenzo, 2013. "Too difficult to govern? An assessment of the governability of transport biofuels in the EU," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 81-88.
    20. Scharin, Henrik & Ericsdotter, Siv & Elliott, Michael & Turner, R. Kerry & Niiranen, Susa & Blenckner, Thorsten & Hyytiäinen, Kari & Ahlvik, Lassi & Ahtiainen, Heini & Artell, Janne & Hasselström, Lin, 2016. "Processes for the sustainable stewardship of marine environments," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 55-67.

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