Social capital, community based governance and resilience in an African artisanal river fishery

Nkhata, B.A. , Breen C.M. , Abacar, A.

NWP Annotation by Jon Anderson

The authors take a social capital, common property and complex adaptive systems approach to the "collapse" (unsustainable harvesting, inappropriate practices) of a fishery. The authors believe that at one time, due to high levels of social capital, the fishery was adequately managed. Outside influences (colonialism, etc.) "deconstructed" this social capital leading to a lack of sustainability. The authors use complex systems theories to discuss resilience and different phases of system evolution - conservation, release, growth and reorganization (the phase this particular system is in). The authors conclude by pointing out the non-linear evolution of the site and that this evolution will inevitably lead to a significantly different state.

2013-02-22
Water SA
  • Journal article
★★★★
  • Africa - Southern
  • Africa
Mozambique Tanzania
  • Fisheries
  • Fostered innovation, social learning, and adaptive management - [Relevant]
  • Promoted local land use planning and appropriate resource tenure systems - [Relevant]
  • Continuous and inclusive consultations - [Relevant]n
  • Local stakeholder input into public decisions and policy - [Relevant]
  • Natural resource authority and functions distribution - [Relevant]
  • Environmental/productivity - [Yes]
  • Governance/empowerment - [Yes]
  • Economic/income generation - [Yes]
  • Governance/empowerment - [Yes]
  • Environmental/productivity - [Yes]
  • Governance/empowerment - [Yes]
  • Economic/income generation - [Yes]
  • Governance - [External or structural policies that influenced success or failure]
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