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Conflict and collective action in T onle S ap fisheries: a dapting governance to support community livelihoods
Author(s) -
Ratner Blake D.,
So Sovannarith,
Mam Kosal,
Oeur Il,
Kim Sour
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
natural resources forum
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.646
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1477-8947
pISSN - 0165-0203
DOI - 10.1111/1477-8947.12120
Subject(s) - livelihood , collective action , civil society , business , corporate governance , context (archaeology) , government (linguistics) , fisheries management , enforcement , resource (disambiguation) , fishing , economic growth , political science , economics , agriculture , finance , geography , law , computer network , linguistics , philosophy , archaeology , politics , computer science
This paper presents the results of action research conducted from 2009 to 2015 on the dynamics of resource conflict concerning fisheries and livelihoods in the T onle S ap L ake, as well as the institutional context and strategies for institutional adaptation to address such conflicts equitably. Over the past 15 years, Cambodia has made significant advances in building the policy framework, regulations and institutions to support community‐based fisheries management and increase the sector's contribution to the rural economy. However, fundamental challenges of increased resource conflict and loss of livelihoods by the most vulnerable remain. Key sources of conflict include destructive and illegal fishing practices, clearing of flooded forests, competing uses of land and water, and overlapping resource claims. Addressing these challenges requires collective action by all key actors: local fishers, the private sector, civil society, development partners, and government from the local to the national level. We identify and elaborate upon four governance priorities: (1) clarify roles and responsibilities in fisheries management; (2) link civil society and government efforts in law enforcement; (3) strengthen partnerships for livelihoods development; and (4) integrate fisheries management into decentralised development planning.