Adaptive Governance: The Dynamics of Atlantic Fisheries Management (Global Environmental Accord: Strategies for Sustainability and Institutional Innovation (Paperback))

Develops and applies an innovative theoretical framework that links domestic economic vulnerabilities to national policy positions and international management in the context of Atlantic fisheries. The rapid expansion of the fishing industry in the last century has raised major concerns over the long-term viability of many fish species. International fisheries organizations have failed to prevent the overfishing of many stocks, but succeeded in curtailing harvests for some key fisheries. In Adaptive Governance , D. G. Webster proposes a new perspective to improve our understanding of both success and failure in international resource regimes. She develops a theoretical approach, the vulnerability response framework, which can increase understanding of countries' positions on the management of international fisheries based on linkages between domestic vulnerabilities and national policy positions. Vulnerability, mainly economic in this context, acts as an indicator for domestic susceptibility to the increasing competition associated with open access and related stock declines. Because of this relationship, vulnerability can also be used to trace the trajectory of nations' positions on fisheries management as they seek political alternatives to economic problems. Webster tests this framework by using it to predict national positions for eight cases drawn from the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). These studies reveal that there is considerable variance in the management measures ICCAT has adopted--both between different species and in dealing with the same species over time--and that much of this variance can be traced to vulnerability response behavior. Little attention has been paid to the ways in which international regimes change over time. Webster's innovative approach illuminates the pressures for change that are generated by economic competition and overexploitation in Atlantic fisheries. Her work also identifies patterns of adaptive governance, as national responses to such pressures culminate in patterns of change in international management.

The rapid expansion of the fishing industry in the last century has raised major concerns over the long-term viability of many fish species. International fisheries organizations have failed to prevent the overfishing of many stocks, but succeeded in curtailing harvests for some key fisheries. In Adaptive Governance, D. G. Webster proposes a new perspective to improve our understanding of both success and failure in international resource regimes. She develops a theoretical approach, the vulnerability response framework, which can increase understanding of countries' positions on the management of international fisheries based on linkages between domestic vulnerabilities and national policy positions. Vulnerability, mainly economic in this context, acts as an indicator for domestic susceptibility to the increasing competition associated with open access and related stock declines. Because of this relationship, vulnerability can also be used to trace the trajectory of nations' positions on fisheries management as they seek political alternatives to economic problems. Webster tests this framework by using it to predict national positions for eight cases drawn from the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). These studies reveal that there is considerable variance in the management measures ICCAT has adopted-both between different species and in dealing with the same species over time-and that much of this variance can be traced to vulnerability response behavior. Little attention has been paid to the ways in which international regimes change over time. Webster's innovative approach illuminates the pressures for change that are generated by economic competition and overexploitation in Atlantic fisheries. Her work also identifies patterns of adaptive governance, as national responses to such pressures culminate in patterns of change in international management.

Contents ......Page 8 Series Foreword......Page 10 Foreword......Page 12 Preface......Page 16 Acknowledgments......Page 18 1 - Adaptive Governance......Page 22 2 - The Vulnerability Response Framework......Page 38 I - Tropical Tunas......Page 68 3 - Bigeye Tuna......Page 72 4 - Yellowfin Tuna......Page 92 5 - Skipjack Tuna......Page 106 II - Billfishes ......Page 128 6 - Northern Swordfish......Page 134 7 - Southern Swordfish......Page 154 8 - Blue Marlin and White Marlin......Page 172 III - Bluefin Tuna......Page 190 9 - Western Bluefin Tuna......Page 194 10 - Eastern Bluefin Tuna......Page 216 11 - Conclusion ......Page 248 Appendix A - Group of 18......Page 276 Appendix B - Comprehensive Vulnerability Classifications......Page 278 Appendix C - Summary of Evidence from the Cases......Page 296 Appendix D - Proxy Indicators for Competitiveness......Page 312 Appendix E - Proxy Indicators for Flexibility......Page 318 Appendix F - Delineating High-Flex and Low-Flex Phases for Gradually Vulnerable Countries......Page 364 Notes......Page 370 References......Page 394 Index......Page 402 Series List ......Page 414 1. Adaptive Governance -- 2. Vulnerability Response Framework -- I. Tropical Tunas -- 3. Bigeye Tuna -- 4. Yellowfin Tuna -- 5. Skipjack Tuna -- Ii. Billfishes -- 6. Northern Swordfish -- 7. Southern Swordfish -- 8. Blue Marlin And White Marlin -- Iii. Bluefin Tuna -- 9. Western Bluefin Tuna -- 10. Eastern Bluefin Tuna -- 11. Conclusion -- Appendix A. Group Of 18 -- Appendix B. Comprehensive Vulnerability Classifications -- Appendix C. Summary Of Evidence From The Cases -- Appendix D. Proxy Indicators For Competitiveness -- Appendix E. Proxy Indicators For Flexibility -- Appendix F. Delineating High-flex And Low-flex Phases For Gradually Vulnerable Countries. D.g. Webster. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [373]-380) And Index. This title develops and applies an innovative theoretical framework that links domestic economic vulnerabilities to national policy positions and international management in the context of Atlantic fisheries.