The ocean economy has the potential to improve human wellbeing. Yet, in practice, its rapid accel... more The ocean economy has the potential to improve human wellbeing. Yet, in practice, its rapid acceleration is often producing few benefits and substantial social harms for rural and resource-dependent coastal communities. We urge a global transformation to a socially sustainable and equitable blue economy that benefits coastal populations.
Calls to address social equity in ocean governance are expanding. Yet ‘equity’ is seldom clearly ... more Calls to address social equity in ocean governance are expanding. Yet ‘equity’ is seldom clearly defined. Here we present a framework to support contextually-informed assessment of equity in ocean governance. Guiding questions include: (1) Where and (2) Why is equity being examined? (3) Equity for or amongst Whom? (4) What is being distributed? (5) When is equity considered? And (6) How do governance structures impact equity? The framework supports consistent operationalization of equity, challenges oversimplification, and allows evaluation of progress. It is a step toward securing the equitable ocean governance already reflected in national and international commitments.
Abstract Fisheries and aquaculture policies are not currently designed to focus on food security ... more Abstract Fisheries and aquaculture policies are not currently designed to focus on food security and nutrition but the fisheries sector makes significant contributions, both directly to nutritious diets in the form of bioavailable micronutrients and indirectly to support livelihoods, economic growth, and trade. This chapter outlines a four-step process to identify policies to address food security challenges and opportunities related to the sector. Effective policy designs are examined via case studies. If well governed and integrated with other food sectors, the oceans can contribute to supplying nutrition for an expanding population. They can also support an emerging focus on justice and equity to ensure that the environmental goods and services that flow from seafood benefit the health of resource-reliant or nutritionally vulnerable households and communities.
The relationship between aquatic foods and food nutrition and security is increasingly recognised... more The relationship between aquatic foods and food nutrition and security is increasingly recognised in policy and practice, yet many governance instruments do not acknowledge or support this important connection. The most effective policy approaches to support the link between these sectors, or ‘best practices’ are currently unknown. We reviewed relevant governance instruments from multiple countries to identify how these instruments linked fisheries, aquaculture and food security and nutrition, including the policy framing and evidence of political commitment. Of the documents connecting the sectors (65%), the majority did so in the context of developing the fisheries/aquaculture sector to increase aquatic food availability and/or access (51%), followed by developing the fisheries/aquaculture sector as a livelihoods approach to indirectly improve food security (33%), for example, through income generation. Sectoral links established in the context of nutrition-sensitive approaches to...
Uncertainty pervades the management of fisheries. Scientific fisheries management over the last 5... more Uncertainty pervades the management of fisheries. Scientific fisheries management over the last 50 years has been based on the premise that there exists an equilibrium relationship between fish production and the level of harvest that can be taken without depleting the stocks. These equilibrium ‘surplus-production’ and ‘yield-per-recruit’ models have served to establish the principle that unregulated fishing will deplete fish stocks and dissipate economic rents from the fishery, but they have been of limited applicability for practical fisheries management when their equilibrium assumptions are violated. The influence of equilibrium models has extended beyond stock assessment into management, such that many fisheries management measures are based on a ‘steadystate’ view of fishery resources even when most stakeholders are aware that the assumptions are untenable. This paper makes the case that fish production in many African inland waters is driven by climate variations. For fisheri...
This paper provides summaries of presentations at a special session of IIFET 2012 that explored t... more This paper provides summaries of presentations at a special session of IIFET 2012 that explored the potential value of a ‘wellbeing’ approach in small-scale fisheries, drawing on insights from the Governing Small-Scale Fisheries for Wellbeing and Resilience project. The research aimed to apply wellbeing concepts to both better understand fishery values and dynamics, and to improve fisheries management and governance. Wellbeing provides a framework to broaden the analysis of fisheries by addressing the three complementary elements of material, relational and subjective wellbeing, to properly consider the full range of values and objectives in fisheries, and to more comprehensively assess policy alternatives. The paper introduces the idea of wellbeing, then focuses on four themes: (1) the extent to which a wellbeing lens provides a more comprehensive way to approach concerns about poverty, livelihoods and vulnerability in smallscale fisheries; (2) how a wellbeing lens connects to a so...
Fisheries co-management is the institutional model of choice to maintain and rebuild fishery reso... more Fisheries co-management is the institutional model of choice to maintain and rebuild fishery resources in the small-scale sector. This paper argues that the transfer of regulatory and property rights from the central state to multi-stakeholder bodies, including resource users, and local government, can only achieve sectoral efficiency goals such as maximising wealth generated from fisheries or other socially desirable optima if they are accompanied by efforts to address the vulnerability and social exclusion of the new rights-holders and decision-makers. Case studies from West and Central African countries are presented to indicate how resource rebuilding and poverty reduction are addressed jointly by strengthening both comanagement systems and the livelihoods of fishery resource users.
Abstract Voluntary (or non-binding) commitments offer an action-oriented mechanism for addressing... more Abstract Voluntary (or non-binding) commitments offer an action-oriented mechanism for addressing interconnected, complex and pressing issues. Though not designed to replace negotiated or binding outcomes, voluntary commitments can offer a critical tool in currently ungoverned or under-governed systems. The Blue Economy is an example of a rapidly evolving agenda where formal governance arrangements are at best nascent, in part due to the trans-border nature of issues and prominent involvement of multiple types of actors. As such voluntary commitments provide an important mechanism through which to monitor the evolution of the concept and identify gaps or shortfalls in its implementation. Our analysis of global voluntary commitments on the Blue Economy made to recent high-profile ocean futures meetings, found a trend towards capacity development, research, and investment in emerging and larger scale sectors such as offshore aquaculture and renewable energy. A concurrent focus was on securitizing, regulating or diverting effort from historically significant fisheries sectors. European organizations are playing a dominant role in Blue Economy commitments, with a notable absence of commitments from major Blue Economy powers such as China and India. We identify a number of gaps and shortfalls, particularly in relation to active consideration of social equity in the Blue Economy. We identify a range of recommendations on how these deficiencies may be addressed through a greater focus on a broader suite of objectives and a more inclusive approach to ocean meetings.
Global food system analyses call for an urgent transition to sustainable human diets but how this... more Global food system analyses call for an urgent transition to sustainable human diets but how this might be achieved within the current global food regime is poorly explored. Here we examine the factors that have fostered major dietary shifts across eight countries in the past 70 years. Guided by transition and food-regime theories, we draw on data from diverse disciplines, reviewing post-World War 2 shifts in consumption of three food commodities: farmed tilapia, milk and chicken. We show that large-scale shifts in commodity systems and diets have taken place when public-funded technological innovation is scaled-up by the private sector under supportive state and international policy regimes, highlighting pathways between commodity systems transformation and food-system transitions. Our analysis suggests that the desired sustainability transition will require public policy leadership and private-sector technological innovation alongside consumers who culturally value and can afford healthy, sustainable diets. Transition theory and the political economy of food regimes provide insights for transforming food systems. Recent historic case studies of scientific, technological, political and cultural innovations, including advances in tilapia farming and ultra-heat treatment of milk, provide lessons for future food system shifts.
In recent decades, scientists and practitioners have increasingly focused on identifying and codi... more In recent decades, scientists and practitioners have increasingly focused on identifying and codifying the best ways to manage activities in marine systems, leading to the development and implementation of concepts such as the social-ecological systems approach, ecosystem-based management, integrated management, marine spatial planning, participatory co-management, and the precautionary approach. To date, these concepts appear as separate entities: they have parallel literature streams; have been applied most often individually in attempts to improve governance and management; and in many ways, seem to be competing for attention. This patchwork of approaches may be hindering effective ocean governance. We propose that desirable features from these frameworks could be woven together to form the basis of more effective and equitable ocean governance arrangements across contexts, sectors, and scales. This article synthesizes the efforts of an IMBeR (Integrated Marine Biosphere Research...
A importância da segurança alimentar é frequentemente mencionada em políticas públicas focadas na... more A importância da segurança alimentar é frequentemente mencionada em políticas públicas focadas na pesca artesanal, mas raramente é articulada como objetivo específico. Propõe-se neste artigo abordar a pesca como sistema alimentar e, assim, contribuir para um processo de governança que integre redução da pobreza, sustentabilidade e desenvolvimento humano. Este artigo busca analisar as práticas atuais de governança da pesca artesanal, sob o prisma da segurança alimentar e com foco específico na América Latina. Utilizou-se revisão sistemática dos dados secundários e levantamento detalhado de projetos liderados predominantemente pela sociedade civil em pesca, conservação marinha e desenvolvimento costeiro. Demonstrou-se uma marcada divergência entre planejamento e execução de projetos. Foram identificadas diversas iniciativas que afirmaram ter a segurança alimentar e redução da pobreza entre seus objetivos (n=60 na amostra global, nove das quais na América Latina). Apesar de haver razão...
... As institutions, they lack adaptability and resilience [40]. The complex, even chaotic, behav... more ... As institutions, they lack adaptability and resilience [40]. The complex, even chaotic, behaviour of fish stocks has led Wilson et al. [16] to suggest that there could never be sufficient information to manage fisheries on a numerical basis. ... Wilson et al. ...
... The results of by-catch rates are the highest of any fishery in the world with an estimate of... more ... The results of by-catch rates are the highest of any fishery in the world with an estimate of ... 3). The demand for postlarvae is high within coastal markets but supply is limited, and a strong ... 3. Freshwater prawn postlarvae supply chain from fishers to prawn farmers (based on survey ...
Abernethy, K. E., Trebilcock, P., Kebede, B., Allison, E. H., and Dulvy, N. K. 2010. Fuelling the... more Abernethy, K. E., Trebilcock, P., Kebede, B., Allison, E. H., and Dulvy, N. K. 2010. Fuelling the decline in UK fishing communities? – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 67: 1076–1085. Volatile fuel prices are a threat to the viability of UK fishing communities. The economic and social impacts of rising fuel costs for fishers and communities in southwest England are examined. Fuel prices doubled between early 2007 and mid-2008, whereas fish prices remained relatively stable throughout as a result of the price-setting power of seafood buyers. It was the fishers who absorbed the increased costs, resulting in significant loss of income, reduced job security, and problems in recruiting crew. All gear types were affected, but fishers using towed gears were most adversely impacted. Fishing vessels with recent investment have greater fuel efficiency, so appeared to be more able to cope and to adapt to increased fuel costs. Fishing behaviour also altered as skippers attempted to increase fuel ...
The ocean economy has the potential to improve human wellbeing. Yet, in practice, its rapid accel... more The ocean economy has the potential to improve human wellbeing. Yet, in practice, its rapid acceleration is often producing few benefits and substantial social harms for rural and resource-dependent coastal communities. We urge a global transformation to a socially sustainable and equitable blue economy that benefits coastal populations.
Calls to address social equity in ocean governance are expanding. Yet ‘equity’ is seldom clearly ... more Calls to address social equity in ocean governance are expanding. Yet ‘equity’ is seldom clearly defined. Here we present a framework to support contextually-informed assessment of equity in ocean governance. Guiding questions include: (1) Where and (2) Why is equity being examined? (3) Equity for or amongst Whom? (4) What is being distributed? (5) When is equity considered? And (6) How do governance structures impact equity? The framework supports consistent operationalization of equity, challenges oversimplification, and allows evaluation of progress. It is a step toward securing the equitable ocean governance already reflected in national and international commitments.
Abstract Fisheries and aquaculture policies are not currently designed to focus on food security ... more Abstract Fisheries and aquaculture policies are not currently designed to focus on food security and nutrition but the fisheries sector makes significant contributions, both directly to nutritious diets in the form of bioavailable micronutrients and indirectly to support livelihoods, economic growth, and trade. This chapter outlines a four-step process to identify policies to address food security challenges and opportunities related to the sector. Effective policy designs are examined via case studies. If well governed and integrated with other food sectors, the oceans can contribute to supplying nutrition for an expanding population. They can also support an emerging focus on justice and equity to ensure that the environmental goods and services that flow from seafood benefit the health of resource-reliant or nutritionally vulnerable households and communities.
The relationship between aquatic foods and food nutrition and security is increasingly recognised... more The relationship between aquatic foods and food nutrition and security is increasingly recognised in policy and practice, yet many governance instruments do not acknowledge or support this important connection. The most effective policy approaches to support the link between these sectors, or ‘best practices’ are currently unknown. We reviewed relevant governance instruments from multiple countries to identify how these instruments linked fisheries, aquaculture and food security and nutrition, including the policy framing and evidence of political commitment. Of the documents connecting the sectors (65%), the majority did so in the context of developing the fisheries/aquaculture sector to increase aquatic food availability and/or access (51%), followed by developing the fisheries/aquaculture sector as a livelihoods approach to indirectly improve food security (33%), for example, through income generation. Sectoral links established in the context of nutrition-sensitive approaches to...
Uncertainty pervades the management of fisheries. Scientific fisheries management over the last 5... more Uncertainty pervades the management of fisheries. Scientific fisheries management over the last 50 years has been based on the premise that there exists an equilibrium relationship between fish production and the level of harvest that can be taken without depleting the stocks. These equilibrium ‘surplus-production’ and ‘yield-per-recruit’ models have served to establish the principle that unregulated fishing will deplete fish stocks and dissipate economic rents from the fishery, but they have been of limited applicability for practical fisheries management when their equilibrium assumptions are violated. The influence of equilibrium models has extended beyond stock assessment into management, such that many fisheries management measures are based on a ‘steadystate’ view of fishery resources even when most stakeholders are aware that the assumptions are untenable. This paper makes the case that fish production in many African inland waters is driven by climate variations. For fisheri...
This paper provides summaries of presentations at a special session of IIFET 2012 that explored t... more This paper provides summaries of presentations at a special session of IIFET 2012 that explored the potential value of a ‘wellbeing’ approach in small-scale fisheries, drawing on insights from the Governing Small-Scale Fisheries for Wellbeing and Resilience project. The research aimed to apply wellbeing concepts to both better understand fishery values and dynamics, and to improve fisheries management and governance. Wellbeing provides a framework to broaden the analysis of fisheries by addressing the three complementary elements of material, relational and subjective wellbeing, to properly consider the full range of values and objectives in fisheries, and to more comprehensively assess policy alternatives. The paper introduces the idea of wellbeing, then focuses on four themes: (1) the extent to which a wellbeing lens provides a more comprehensive way to approach concerns about poverty, livelihoods and vulnerability in smallscale fisheries; (2) how a wellbeing lens connects to a so...
Fisheries co-management is the institutional model of choice to maintain and rebuild fishery reso... more Fisheries co-management is the institutional model of choice to maintain and rebuild fishery resources in the small-scale sector. This paper argues that the transfer of regulatory and property rights from the central state to multi-stakeholder bodies, including resource users, and local government, can only achieve sectoral efficiency goals such as maximising wealth generated from fisheries or other socially desirable optima if they are accompanied by efforts to address the vulnerability and social exclusion of the new rights-holders and decision-makers. Case studies from West and Central African countries are presented to indicate how resource rebuilding and poverty reduction are addressed jointly by strengthening both comanagement systems and the livelihoods of fishery resource users.
Abstract Voluntary (or non-binding) commitments offer an action-oriented mechanism for addressing... more Abstract Voluntary (or non-binding) commitments offer an action-oriented mechanism for addressing interconnected, complex and pressing issues. Though not designed to replace negotiated or binding outcomes, voluntary commitments can offer a critical tool in currently ungoverned or under-governed systems. The Blue Economy is an example of a rapidly evolving agenda where formal governance arrangements are at best nascent, in part due to the trans-border nature of issues and prominent involvement of multiple types of actors. As such voluntary commitments provide an important mechanism through which to monitor the evolution of the concept and identify gaps or shortfalls in its implementation. Our analysis of global voluntary commitments on the Blue Economy made to recent high-profile ocean futures meetings, found a trend towards capacity development, research, and investment in emerging and larger scale sectors such as offshore aquaculture and renewable energy. A concurrent focus was on securitizing, regulating or diverting effort from historically significant fisheries sectors. European organizations are playing a dominant role in Blue Economy commitments, with a notable absence of commitments from major Blue Economy powers such as China and India. We identify a number of gaps and shortfalls, particularly in relation to active consideration of social equity in the Blue Economy. We identify a range of recommendations on how these deficiencies may be addressed through a greater focus on a broader suite of objectives and a more inclusive approach to ocean meetings.
Global food system analyses call for an urgent transition to sustainable human diets but how this... more Global food system analyses call for an urgent transition to sustainable human diets but how this might be achieved within the current global food regime is poorly explored. Here we examine the factors that have fostered major dietary shifts across eight countries in the past 70 years. Guided by transition and food-regime theories, we draw on data from diverse disciplines, reviewing post-World War 2 shifts in consumption of three food commodities: farmed tilapia, milk and chicken. We show that large-scale shifts in commodity systems and diets have taken place when public-funded technological innovation is scaled-up by the private sector under supportive state and international policy regimes, highlighting pathways between commodity systems transformation and food-system transitions. Our analysis suggests that the desired sustainability transition will require public policy leadership and private-sector technological innovation alongside consumers who culturally value and can afford healthy, sustainable diets. Transition theory and the political economy of food regimes provide insights for transforming food systems. Recent historic case studies of scientific, technological, political and cultural innovations, including advances in tilapia farming and ultra-heat treatment of milk, provide lessons for future food system shifts.
In recent decades, scientists and practitioners have increasingly focused on identifying and codi... more In recent decades, scientists and practitioners have increasingly focused on identifying and codifying the best ways to manage activities in marine systems, leading to the development and implementation of concepts such as the social-ecological systems approach, ecosystem-based management, integrated management, marine spatial planning, participatory co-management, and the precautionary approach. To date, these concepts appear as separate entities: they have parallel literature streams; have been applied most often individually in attempts to improve governance and management; and in many ways, seem to be competing for attention. This patchwork of approaches may be hindering effective ocean governance. We propose that desirable features from these frameworks could be woven together to form the basis of more effective and equitable ocean governance arrangements across contexts, sectors, and scales. This article synthesizes the efforts of an IMBeR (Integrated Marine Biosphere Research...
A importância da segurança alimentar é frequentemente mencionada em políticas públicas focadas na... more A importância da segurança alimentar é frequentemente mencionada em políticas públicas focadas na pesca artesanal, mas raramente é articulada como objetivo específico. Propõe-se neste artigo abordar a pesca como sistema alimentar e, assim, contribuir para um processo de governança que integre redução da pobreza, sustentabilidade e desenvolvimento humano. Este artigo busca analisar as práticas atuais de governança da pesca artesanal, sob o prisma da segurança alimentar e com foco específico na América Latina. Utilizou-se revisão sistemática dos dados secundários e levantamento detalhado de projetos liderados predominantemente pela sociedade civil em pesca, conservação marinha e desenvolvimento costeiro. Demonstrou-se uma marcada divergência entre planejamento e execução de projetos. Foram identificadas diversas iniciativas que afirmaram ter a segurança alimentar e redução da pobreza entre seus objetivos (n=60 na amostra global, nove das quais na América Latina). Apesar de haver razão...
... As institutions, they lack adaptability and resilience [40]. The complex, even chaotic, behav... more ... As institutions, they lack adaptability and resilience [40]. The complex, even chaotic, behaviour of fish stocks has led Wilson et al. [16] to suggest that there could never be sufficient information to manage fisheries on a numerical basis. ... Wilson et al. ...
... The results of by-catch rates are the highest of any fishery in the world with an estimate of... more ... The results of by-catch rates are the highest of any fishery in the world with an estimate of ... 3). The demand for postlarvae is high within coastal markets but supply is limited, and a strong ... 3. Freshwater prawn postlarvae supply chain from fishers to prawn farmers (based on survey ...
Abernethy, K. E., Trebilcock, P., Kebede, B., Allison, E. H., and Dulvy, N. K. 2010. Fuelling the... more Abernethy, K. E., Trebilcock, P., Kebede, B., Allison, E. H., and Dulvy, N. K. 2010. Fuelling the decline in UK fishing communities? – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 67: 1076–1085. Volatile fuel prices are a threat to the viability of UK fishing communities. The economic and social impacts of rising fuel costs for fishers and communities in southwest England are examined. Fuel prices doubled between early 2007 and mid-2008, whereas fish prices remained relatively stable throughout as a result of the price-setting power of seafood buyers. It was the fishers who absorbed the increased costs, resulting in significant loss of income, reduced job security, and problems in recruiting crew. All gear types were affected, but fishers using towed gears were most adversely impacted. Fishing vessels with recent investment have greater fuel efficiency, so appeared to be more able to cope and to adapt to increased fuel costs. Fishing behaviour also altered as skippers attempted to increase fuel ...
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Papers by Edward H. Allison