Abstract
This study perceives leadership roles from various concepts and theoretical standpoints that are further evaluated in connection with fisheries comanagement programs of Bangladesh. A case study approach combining six project areas of Southern Bangladesh was used so that a broader understanding can be developed about leadership roles in comanagement. In total 15 months of data collection were conducted. It was found that local leaders of comanagement programs play key roles in maintaining local forums such as organizing community groups and representing communities at other scales (e.g., district level meetings). However, some contentious issues such as local corruptions and higher number of non-fisher participants in leadership positions have marred the success of comanagement. It was also found that factors such as education, gender and social positioning have a strong influence (often negative) on local leadership processes limiting the scope of achieving social goals of comanagement programs. Therefore, comanagement programs have become both part of praise and criticism in the issue of leadership roles.
Highlights
It is widely believed that fisheries and other aquatic resources have been degrading worldwide for over-harvests, alteration of fish habitats for flood protection and related hydraulic structures that block migration and spawning of fishes
As leading positions are taken over by non-fishers and rich members of the society, it has been a major concern for traditional fisheries and question arose from many users such as do comanagement programs support the most affected groups for the losses of open water catch? investigating leadership roles process in Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) can provide an important insight about comanagement programs supporting resource governance
Assessment of leadership roles is done based on the relative contributions of leaders towards functioning CBOs, perceptions of general members about good leaders, level of engagement of key stakeholders such as fisheries and less voiced member such as women
Summary
It is widely believed that fisheries and other aquatic resources have been degrading worldwide for over-harvests, alteration of fish habitats for flood protection and related hydraulic structures (e.g., cross-dams) that block migration and spawning of fishes. Going beyond the conventional forms of decision-making such as informing or consulting people by state bodies about a program which are lower level of participation (Arnstein, 1969), a joint collaboration in recent models of partnership such as comanagement can play a supportive roles towards fisheries governance in a variety of ways These include: higher level of communication, resource sharing, enhance linkages to reduce disconnections between state and others as well as engage measures which are more adapted to local social-ecological contexts (Foale et al, 2012; Bene et al, 2011; Armitage et al, 2008; Berkes & Jolly 2001). 2015, Vol 3, No 1 process and what is the key issues comanagement has been facing in leadership development processes for empowerment of local organizations responsible for managing small-scale fisheries in wetlands of Southern Bangladesh (Figure 1) In this regard, influence of education, incomes, issues of gender and asset dimensions of leadership roles are investigated to understand how comanagement process is influenced by these attributes in local forums called Community-Based Organizations (CBOs). This study may interest managers and researchers, locally and globally who is involved in governance of fisheries and any other natural resources through the application of participatory models including comanagement
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