From past behavior to intentions: Using the Theory of Planned Behavior to explore noncompliance in small-scale fisheries

Abstract

Noncompliance in fisheries is a multifaceted problem whose assessment requires insight into the drivers of human behavior. We adapted a socio-psychological model, the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), to explore motivations for regulatory noncompliance in Chilean small-scale fisheries, using self-reported data from fishers. Results show that all components of the TPB, namely fishers' attitude (i.e., perceived benefits of noncompliance), perceived behavioral control (i.e., perceived skills to escape regulations) and subjective norms (i.e., perception of peers' acceptance or disapproval towards noncompliance), had a positive and significant direct effect on the noncompliance behavioral intention. Additionally, fisher's past behavior had a positive direct effect on their attitude, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control. Our results highlight for example, the importance of working on attitudes towards the different transgressions in a differentiated manner. On the one hand, ‘positive or favorable’ attitudes towards size and closure regulations could be reinforced, while unfavorable attitudes towards quota transgression could be discouraged by using mixed strategies, which include those that can build legitimacy and establish more controls. We encourage further examination of specific drivers over multiple noncompliance behaviors in order to predict the extent of noncompliance behaviors in small-scale fisheries.