Policy and governance in aquaculture: lessons learnt and way forward
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Effective governance of modern aquaculture must reconcile ecological and human well-being so that the industry is sustainable over time. Without effective governance, there will be misallocation of resources, and perhaps stagnation of the industry and irreversible environmental damage. There is a consensus that modern aquaculture has a business orientation, similar to any small or medium-sized enterprise. For resources to be invested, there must be an enabling economic environment and secure pro perty rights. However, there must also be controls or incentives to curb short-sighted business behaviour that damages the ecology or society. This requires that aquaculture be not only profitable but also environmentally neutral, technically feasible and socially acceptable. Four governance principles – accountability, effectiveness and efficiency of governments, equity and predictability of the rule of law – are suggested as necessary for sustainable development of the industry. Accountability and predictability provide assurances to entrepreneurs that property rights and contracts will be honoured, while intergenerational equity suggests ecological conservation. The principle of effectiveness and efficiency implies that regulation of aquaculture will be sufficient without being too onerous, and also perhaps decentralization and public participation. Based on these four principles, administrative and legislative frameworks can assist aquaculture to develop sustainably. In addition to governments, there are other participants in aquaculture governance such as communities, non-governmental organizations and producers. Particularly with market and participative forms of governance, these other actors can assist with monitoring and enforcement of regulations, and legitimize siting decisions. Their role in coastal zone management is critical because they provide the social licence that is so necessary for aquaculture to prosper. A final section examines possible governance chall enges in the future. The list is not exhaustive but is sufficient to suggest that aquaculture governance will have to adjust constantly to both endogenous and exogenous forces.