Seto Dissertation Final
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UC Berkeley UC Berkeley Electronic Theses and Dissertations Title Local fishery, global commodity: Conflict, cooperation, and competition in Ghana’s coastal fisheries Permalink https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8kt8f95w Author Seto, Katherine Li Publication Date 2017 Peer reviewed|Thesis/dissertation eScholarship.org Powered by the California Digital Library University of California Local fishery, global commodity: Conflict, cooperation, and competition in Ghana’s coastal fisheries By Katherine Li Seto A dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Science, Policy & Management in the Graduate Division of the University of California, Berkeley Committee in charge: Professor Justin S. Brashares, Co-Chair Professor Kate O’Neill, Co-Chair Professor Larry B. Crowder Professor Isha Ray Summer 2017 Local fishery, global commodity: Conflict, cooperation, and competition in Ghana’s coastal fisheries ©2017 by Katherine Li Seto Abstract Local fishery, global commodity: Conflict, cooperation, and competition in Ghana’s coastal fisheries by Katherine Li Seto Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Science, Policy & Management University of California, Berkeley Professors Justin S. Brashares & Kate O’Neill, Co-Chairs A large body of research in recent decades has dramatically increased our understanding of the dynamics, challenges, and management approaches in marine fisheries commons. However, most of this research focuses on specific fisheries in a single subsector, outlining a series of recommendations to improve governance within a particular context. Yet, as most fisheries around the world do not occur within a closed context, but instead are diverse, cross-scale, dynamic, pluralistic, and resource-limited, many of these recommendations are ill-suited to their particular challenges. One of the best examples of these cross-scale resources challenges are the increasingly reported incidents between small-scale and industrial fishers. While small-scale fishers assert that conflict and competition with industrial vessels present some of the most persistent threats to fishing livelihoods, interactions are complex and may also include cooperative and compensatory dynamics. To illuminate these dynamics, I situate my case study in coastal Ghana, analyZing the characteristics, drivers, and consequences of industrial-small-scale incidents at sea. I employ both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, including key informant interviews, cross-sectional surveys, archival work, and spatial modeling. First, I use a historical database of incidents to understand the actors, characteristics, and drivers of incidents, situating them as a form of resource conflict. Further, I ground these incidents in conflict theory, outlining their contingent nature and pathways toward conflict and cooperation. Finally, I empirically assess the consequences of these incidents for small- scale fishing households and communities. Through these analyses, I aim to illuminate one of the least evidenced and theorized conjunctures in fisheries, yet one that profoundly affects the day to day lives of millions of fishers around the world. 1 Dedication Dedicated to John and Nancy Wilson, Ann and Max Seto, the past and the future. i Table of Contents Abstract ......................................................................................................................................................................... 1 Dedication ..................................................................................................................................................................... i Table of Contents ...................................................................................................................................................... ii List of Figures and Boxes ...................................................................................................................................... iv 1 Figures ........................................................................................................................................................... iv 2 Boxes .............................................................................................................................................................. iv List of Tables ............................................................................................................................................................... v Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................................. vi Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................ 1 Industrial-Small-scale fisheries conflict: A Literature Review ............................................................. 3 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................. 3 2 Background ................................................................................................................................................... 4 3 Literature Review ...................................................................................................................................... 6 3.1 Typologies ........................................................................................................................................... 6 3.2 Discussion ......................................................................................................................................... 12 4 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................................. 14 Chapter 1: Fish, Fishers, & Fleets: Characterizing fisheries interactions at sea ......................... 16 1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................................. 16 2 Methods ....................................................................................................................................................... 17 2.1 Data Collection ................................................................................................................................ 17 2.2 Statistical analysis ......................................................................................................................... 18 2.3 Spatial analysis ............................................................................................................................... 19 3 Results and Discussion ......................................................................................................................... 19 3.1 Who are the actors involved in incidents at sea? ............................................................ 19 3.2 What are the characteristics & drivers of fishing incidents at sea? ......................... 26 3.3 What are the outcomes of these incidents for various actors? .................................. 30 4 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................................. 33 Chapter 2: Conflict at sea as resource conflict? Tracing patterns of conflict and cooperation in Ghana ..................................................................................................................................................................... 35 1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................................. 35 1.1 Resource conflict and cooperation: Theories and approaches ................................. 35 1.2 Analysis Framework .................................................................................................................... 38 1.3 Case study: Ghanaian fisheries incidents at sea ............................................................... 40 2 Results: Tracing patterns of interaction at sea .......................................................................... 41 3 What explains patterns of conflict and cooperation in Ghana’s fisheries? .................... 44 3.1 Divergent incentives and vulnerabilities guide conflictual outcomes ................... 45 3.2 Disparate notions of legitimacy and cohesion guide conflictual outcomes ......... 47 3.3 Different rules and norms of behavior guide conflict .................................................... 49 3.4 Bridging social capital guides cooperation ........................................................................ 51 3.5 Bridging land based Institution promotes cooperation ............................................... 53 4 Discussion: How do conflict and cooperation patterns shape fisheries livelihoods, utilization, and governance? ........................................................................................................................ 54 5 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................................. 56 ii Chapter 3: Household effects of incidents at sea: Does industrial competition reduce access for small-scale fishers? .......................................................................................................................................