IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v12y2020i14p5738-d385490.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Governance and Power Dynamics in a Small-Scale Hilsa Shad ( Tenualosa ilisha ) Fishery: A Case Study from Bangladesh

Author

Listed:
  • Mohammad Mojibul Hoque Mozumder

    (Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science (HELSUS), Doctoral Programme in Interdisciplinary Environmental Science (DENVI), Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland)

  • Aili Pyhälä

    (Department of Geosciences and Geography, Faculty of Social Sciences, Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science (HELSUS), University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland)

  • Md. Abdul Wahab

    (WorldFish, Bangladesh, and South Asia Office, Dhaka 1213, Bangladesh)

  • Simo Sarkki

    (Cultural Anthropology, Faculty of Humanities, University of Oulu, 90014 Oulu, Finland)

  • Petra Schneider

    (Department for Water, Environment, Civil Engineering and Safety, University of Applied Sciences Magdeburg-Stendal, D-39114 Magdeburg, Germany)

  • Mohammad Mahmudul Islam

    (Department of Coastal and Marine Fisheries, Sylhet Agricultural University, Sylhet 3100, Bangladesh
    Department of Geography, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St.John’s, NL A1B 3X9, Canada)

Abstract

This paper considers the hilsa shad ( Tenualosa ilisha ) fishery of southern Bangladesh as a case study regarding governance and power dynamics at play in a small-scale fishery, and the relevance of these for the sustainable management of coastal fisheries. Qualitative methods, involving in-depth individual interviews (n = 128) and focus group discussions (n = 8) with key stakeholders in the hilsa fishery, were used to capture multiple perspectives on governance from those in different positions in the relative power structures studied, while facilitating insightful discussions and reflections. The analysis here is based on a power cube framework along three power dimensions (levels, spaces, and forms) in Bangladesh’s hilsa fishery. The study displays an imbalance in the present hilsa governance structure, with some stakeholders exercising more power than others, sidelining small-scale fishers, and encouraging increasing illegal fishing levels that ultimately harm both the fisheries and those dependent on them. To overcome this, we propose a co-management system that can play a vital role in equalizing power asymmetry among hilsa fishery stakeholders and ensure effective hilsa fishery governance. Our results suggest that recognizing analyzed power dynamics has substantial implications for the planning and implementation of such co-management and the long-term sustainability of the hilsa fishery.

Suggested Citation

  • Mohammad Mojibul Hoque Mozumder & Aili Pyhälä & Md. Abdul Wahab & Simo Sarkki & Petra Schneider & Mohammad Mahmudul Islam, 2020. "Governance and Power Dynamics in a Small-Scale Hilsa Shad ( Tenualosa ilisha ) Fishery: A Case Study from Bangladesh," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-24, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:14:p:5738-:d:385490
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/14/5738/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/14/5738/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ho, Nga Thi Thanh & Ross, Helen & Coutts, Jeffrey, 2015. "Power sharing in fisheries co-management in Tam Giang Lagoon, Vietnam," Marine Policy, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 171-179.
    2. Kevin St. Martin, 2005. "Mapping Economic Diversity in the First World: The Case of Fisheries," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 37(6), pages 959-979, June.
    3. Barbara Quimby & Arielle Levine, 2018. "Participation, Power, and Equity: Examining Three Key Social Dimensions of Fisheries Comanagement," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-20, September.
    4. Pita, Cristina & Pierce, Graham J. & Theodossiou, Ioannis, 2010. "Stakeholders' participation in the fisheries management decision-making process: Fishers' perceptions of participation," Marine Policy, Elsevier, vol. 34(5), pages 1093-1102, September.
    5. Wilson, Douglas Clyde & Ahmed, Mahfuzuddin & Siar, Susanna V. & Kanagaratnam, Usha, 2006. "Cross-scale linkages and adaptive management: Fisheries co-management in Asia," Marine Policy, Elsevier, vol. 30(5), pages 523-533, September.
    6. Morishita, Joji, 2008. "What is the ecosystem approach for fisheries management," Marine Policy, Elsevier, vol. 32(1), pages 19-26, January.
    7. Pomeroy, Robert S & Berkes, Fikret, 1997. "Two to tango: The role of government in fisheries co-management," Marine Policy, Elsevier, vol. 21(5), pages 465-480, September.
    8. Pomeroy, Robert S. & Katon, Brenda M. & Harkes, Ingvild, 2001. "Conditions affecting the success of fisheries co-management: lessons from Asia," Marine Policy, Elsevier, vol. 25(3), pages 197-208, May.
    9. Chuenpagdee, Ratana & Jentoft, Svein, 2007. "Step zero for fisheries co-management: What precedes implementation," Marine Policy, Elsevier, vol. 31(6), pages 657-668, November.
    10. Johanna Jacobi & Aymara Llanque, 2018. "“When We Stand up, They Have to Negotiate with Us”: Power Relations in and between an Agroindustrial and an Indigenous Food System in Bolivia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-27, November.
    11. Jentoft, Svein, 1989. "Fisheries co-management , : Delegating government responsibility to fishermen's organizations," Marine Policy, Elsevier, vol. 13(2), pages 137-154, April.
    12. Funda Bilgen Steinberg, 2018. "Cyborgs Redefining Humanity," European Journal of Social Sciences Education and Research Articles, Revistia Research and Publishing, vol. 5, May - Aug.
    13. Mohammad Mahmudul Islam & Rumana Aktar & Md. Nahiduzzaman & Benoy Kumar Barman & Md. Abdul Wahab, 2018. "Social Considerations of Large River Sanctuaries: A Case Study from the Hilsa Shad Fishery in Bangladesh," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-17, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Maruf Ahmed & Sabrina Jannat Mitu & Petra Schneider & Masud Alam & Mohammad Mojibul Hoque Mozumder & Md. Mostafa Shamsuzzaman, 2021. "Socio-Economic Conditions of Small-Scale Hilsa Fishers in the Meghna River Estuary of Chandpur, Bangladesh," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-18, November.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. C. A. Etiegni & K. Irvine & M. Kooy, 2017. "Playing by whose rules? Community norms and fisheries rules in selected beaches within Lake Victoria (Kenya) co-management," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 19(4), pages 1557-1575, August.
    2. Nguyen Thi Quynh, Chi & Schilizzi, Steven & Hailu, Atakelty & Iftekhar, Sayed, 2020. "Vietnam’s Territorial Use Rights for Fisheries: How do they perform against Ostrom’s institutional design principles?," World Development Perspectives, Elsevier, vol. 17(C).
    3. Brewer, T.D. & Moon, K., 2015. "Towards a functional typology of small-scale fisheries co-management informed by stakeholder perceptions: A coral reef case study," Marine Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 48-56.
    4. Finkbeiner, Elena M. & Basurto, Xavier, 2015. "Re-defining co-management to facilitate small-scale fisheries reform: An illustration from northwest Mexico," Marine Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 433-441.
    5. Barley Kincaid, Kate & Rose, George & Mahudi, Humphrey, 2014. "Fishers' perception of a multiple-use marine protected area: Why communities and gear users differ at Mafia Island, Tanzania," Marine Policy, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 226-235.
    6. Barbara Quimby & Arielle Levine, 2018. "Participation, Power, and Equity: Examining Three Key Social Dimensions of Fisheries Comanagement," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-20, September.
    7. Asproudis, Elias & Filippiadis, Eleftherios, 2021. "Bargaining for Community Fishing Quotas," MPRA Paper 107409, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    8. Vaughan, Mehana Blaich & Caldwell, Margaret R., 2015. "Hana Pa'a: Challenges and lessons for early phases of co-management," Marine Policy, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 51-62.
    9. Tim S. Gray & Thomas L. Catchpole, 2021. "The Relation between Fisheries–Science Partnerships and Co-Management: A Case Study of EU Discards Survival Work," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-19, March.
    10. Ishmael B. M. Kosamu, 2014. "Conditions for Sustainability of the Elephant Marsh Fishery in Malawi," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(7), pages 1-18, June.
    11. Mohammad Mojibul Hoque Mozumder & Md. Abdul Wahab & Simo Sarkki & Petra Schneider & Mohammad Mahmudul Islam, 2018. "Enhancing Social Resilience of the Coastal Fishing Communities: A Case Study of Hilsa ( Tenualosa Ilisha H.) Fishery in Bangladesh," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-21, September.
    12. Theesfeld, Insa & Pirscher, Frauke (ed.), 2011. "Perspectives on institutional change - water management in Europe," Studies on the Agricultural and Food Sector in Transition Economies, Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Transition Economies (IAMO), volume 58, number 109519.
    13. Quynh, Chi Nguyen Thi & Schilizzi, Steven & Hailu, Atakelty & Iftekhar, Sayed, 2018. "Fishers' Preference Heterogeneity and Trade-offs Between Design Options for More Effective Monitoring of Fisheries," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 151(C), pages 22-33.
    14. Béné, Christophe & Belal, Emma & Baba, Malloum Ousman & Ovie, Solomon & Raji, Aminu & Malasha, Isaac & Njaya, Friday & Na Andi, Mamane & Russell, Aaron & Neiland, Arthur, 2009. "Power Struggle, Dispute and Alliance Over Local Resources: Analyzing 'Democratic' Decentralization of Natural Resources through the Lenses of Africa Inland Fisheries," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 37(12), pages 1935-1950, December.
    15. Kenrick W. Williams & Hsing-Sheng Tai, 2016. "A Multi-Tier Social-Ecological System Analysis of Protected Areas Co-Management in Belize," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(2), pages 1-23, January.
    16. Purcell, S.W. & Lovatelli, A. & Pakoa, K., 2014. "Constraints and solutions for managing Pacific Island sea cucumber fisheries with an ecosystem approach," Marine Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 240-250.
    17. Heenan, Adel & Pomeroy, Robert & Bell, Johann & Munday, Philip L. & Cheung, William & Logan, Cheryl & Brainard, Russell & Yang Amri, Affendi & Aliño, Porfirio & Armada, Nygiel & David, Laura & Rivera-, 2015. "A climate-informed, ecosystem approach to fisheries management," Marine Policy, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 182-192.
    18. Dentoni, Domenico & Klerkx, Laurens, 2015. "Co-managing public research in Australian fisheries through convergence–divergence processes," Marine Policy, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 259-271.
    19. Kobe De Pourcq & Evert Thomas & Bas Arts & An Vranckx & Tomas Léon-Sicard & Patrick Van Damme, 2015. "Conflict in Protected Areas: Who Says Co-Management Does Not Work?," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(12), pages 1-15, December.
    20. Rama, Klodjan & Theesfeld, Insa, 2011. "The Strengths and Weaknesses of Albania’s Customary Rules in Natural Resource Management in the Light of Devolution Policies," Quarterly Journal of International Agriculture, Humboldt-Universitaat zu Berlin, vol. 50(4), pages 1-19.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:14:p:5738-:d:385490. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.