Reservoir fisheries governance quality index: Development and validation

Abstract

The governance of reservoir fisheries is a multifaceted phenomenon encompassing both formal and informal institutions and processes. This complexity presents a challenge in measuring the effectiveness of governance in addressing ecological and socioeconomic concerns. To address this challenge, a study was undertaken to develop a Reservoir Fisheries Governance Quality Index (RFGQI), a pioneering tool meticulously engineered to assess governance standards in reservoir fisheries. The study involved an extensive literature review and three Focus Group Discussions with Key Informants from three reservoirs: Bansagar, Dahod, and Gangulpara in Madhya Pradesh, India, to select indicators. A total of 127 indicators were selected under eight dimensions: fisheries, management and coordination, infrastructure, policy, participatory approach, fisheries development programs, fishers’ livelihood activities, and transparency and accountability. Principal Component Analysis was conducted, resulting in the removal of 17 indicators contributing to less than 10% of the variance in explaining their respective dimensions. To further validate the selected indicators, two expert groups were formed to judge the relevance of indicators using a five-point Likert scale. All 110 indicators received an average relevancy score of 3 or above. A Mann-Whitney U test revealed no significant difference in the relevance of indicators and dimensions between the expert groups. Kendal’s Coefficient of Concordance was 0.87, indicating good agreement on relevance between expert groups. All 110 indicators had weighted scores above 0.20, so all were retained, indicating their high relevance. Out of 140, a total of 137 statements under 110 indicators were retained with a content validity index of 0.80. The RFGQI was pilot-tested on 30 experienced fishers from the three reservoirs. The reliability coefficient of RFGQI was 0.92, affirming its reliability. In summary, the RFGQI comprises 8 dimensions, 110 indicators, and a list of 137 statements. The RFGQI serves as a valuable tool for assessing and improving the quality of fisheries governance in reservoirs, contributing to sustainable and equitable resource management. The RFGQI has the potential for universal application across various reservoir fisheries, subject to specific modifications as needed.