Governance for vulnerability to viability transitions in the Transboundary Sundarbans Social-Ecological Systems

Abstract

Globally, small-scale fisheries are known for their significant contribution to employment, food and nutritional security, livelihoods, poverty eradication, and community well-being. Despite their significant contribution, small-scale fisheries are underestimated, marginalized, and undervalued in the decision-making process, and often compete against large-scale fisheries and other industries for fishing space, resources and government attention. A transition toward viable and sustainable small-scale fisheries is crucial for the well-being of the small-scale fishers and the society at large.

A transition from vulnerability to viability for small-scale fisheries is complicated, with different stages and processes. This research argues that small-scale fisheries’ vulnerabilities are ‘wicked,’ which have no easy fix, are not clear when they are solved, tend to reappear, and have no right or wrong solution to scientifically determine. The transboundary nature of small-scale fisheries in shared social-ecological systems further complicates the wickedness of small-scale fisheries vulnerability and so the transitions toward viability. Fisheries resources are highly diverse, mobile, and porous, and they are difficult to manage in a shared fisheries system. A gap exists theoretically and empirically in understanding the vulnerability to viability transitions at different scales and levels. This research employed case studies in the transboundary Sundarbans mangrove forest, a typical transboundary social-ecological system shared between Bangladesh and India along the coast of the Bay of Bengal. The forest supports millions of small-scale fishers, protects the communities from natural disasters, and faces common threats, such as resource decline, salinity intrusion, and climate change impacts on both sides of the forest. The purpose of this research is to develop a comprehensive understanding of small-scale fisheries’ vulnerability to viability transitions and identify the key characteristics of governance arrangements that can help facilitate the transition in the Sundarbans transboundary small-scale fisheries. The research addresses three specific objectives: (i) to determine the key processes and mechanisms of vulnerability to viability transitions in small-scale fisheries; (ii) to explore the key vulnerabilities and the factors that hinder or facilitate transitions toward viability for small-scale fisheries in the transboundary Sundarbans; and (iii) to examine the governability of the governing system to facilitate vulnerability to viability transitions.

Using a scoping literature review, the study highlighted how conventional responses, such as migration, gear modifications, or top-down policies like fishing bans, often fail to address systemic vulnerabilities and may even worsen them. Based on the outcome of the literature review, the study developed a conceptual framework to systematically diagnose the challenges related to vulnerability to viability transitions. By employing a mixed-method approach, the study conducted interviews (N=32), household surveys (N=151), and focus group discussions (N=2) on the Bangladesh and India sides of the Sundarbans mangrove forest. The results revealed that the multi-dimensional vulnerabilities, such as poor housing conditions, marginalization of fishermen and women in decision-making, natural hazards like cyclones, floods, and tiger attacks, inequitable benefit-sharing, exploitation by middlemen, and restrictive fishing policies, pose a barrier to transitions toward viable small-scale fisheries.

The research found that both Bangladesh and India employ a mixed (hybrid) governance mode, with hierarchical governance dominating and co-governance initiatives in early stages. The study identified several governability challenges, for instance, diverse stakeholder images about the transboundary Sundarbans issues, which pose barriers to small-scale fisheries’ vulnerability to viability transitions. The study suggested that effective governance requires decentralizing power, improving stakeholder coordination, and aligning conservation goals with community livelihoods. The study also urges a meaningful collaboration between Bangladesh and India, and genuine inclusion of fishing communities in decision-making to facilitate the transition from vulnerability to viability for small-scale fisheries. The study has made a significant contribution to the discussion of vulnerability to viability transitions as an emerging field. The empirical findings provide evidence of whether and how the transitions toward viability can be achieved for small-scale fisheries.