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Irrigation and fisheries: irreconcilable conflicts or potential synergies?
Author(s) -
NguyenKhoa S.,
Smith L. E. D.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
irrigation and drainage
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.421
H-Index - 38
eISSN - 1531-0361
pISSN - 1531-0353
DOI - 10.1002/ird.136
Subject(s) - business , conflict management , citizen journalism , resource (disambiguation) , irrigation management , protocol (science) , resource management (computing) , environmental planning , environmental resource management , irrigation , process (computing) , natural resource management , conflict resolution , water resource management , fisheries management , participatory management , agriculture , natural resource , fishery , geography , economics , environmental science , political science , computer science , ecology , management , fishing , alternative medicine , law , computer network , archaeology , pathology , biology , operating system , medicine
In situations of water scarcity, significant conflicts can arise between management of water for irrigation and inland fisheries. This paper considers the principles and lessons that can be drawn from the application of a conflict resolution mechanism—a protocol for participatory impact assessment and management—to a situation of conflict in the dry zone of Sri Lanka. Key features of this protocol are: (i) genuine participation of stakeholders; (ii) integrated assessment and management of impacts of irrigation on fisheries; (iii) management of information and an informed decision‐making process; and (iv) adoption of an iterative and learning approach. The two main sources of conflict between fishermen and irrigators in the case investigated arise in the management of reservoir water levels and in the disposal of drainage flows into coastal lagoons. Application of the protocol demonstrated ways to improve information and communication between parties, to reduce conflict and to improve resource management. Consensus for resource management options was found in emphasising the priority needs of the poorest sections of local communities, and in seeking means to improve management of irrigation to the benefit of both farmers and fishermen. Application of the protocol thus identified possible synergies between irrigation and fisheries where previously these activities had been viewed as purely antagonistic. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.