Analysing fisheries conflict with the FishCollab ‘conflict mapping’ toolkit: lessons from Selayar, Indonesia

Abstract

Fisheries conflicts often occur among coastal fishers throughout the world, especially when the condition of coastal ecosystems decreases. This paper presents a method for analysing conflicts over the utilisation of coastal resources and a route to solutions involving multiple stakeholders in achieving sustainable fisheries management. This methodwas developed and tested in a participatory study conducted with coastal communities and local government in 2016-2018 in the Selayar Islands, South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Within the participatory approach, data collection incorporated participant observation, in-depth interviews, and discussions. The conflict mapping tool identifies the direct and indirect parties to each conflict, their contexts, strengths, the underlying needs that manifest as positions, and their concerns with respect to the conflict issues. The analysis helps analysts or the parties themselves to look for common interests, and to identify “win-win” possibilities and opportunities to negotiate new solutions.