Seeking clarity on transparency in fisheries governance and management

Abstract

Calls for greater transparency in fisheries are becoming increasingly common. They promise better evaluation of management interventions, more participatory decision-making, effective monitoring and surveillance, and sustainable and equitable exploitation of shared resources. However, there is often a lack of clarity regarding what is meant by ‘transparency’ and how it is best achieved. This term is often used interchangeably, by both decision-makers and civil society, and sometimes inappropriately when a more specific term may be called for. This can lead to the propagation of sweeping assumptions and reductive views on what fisheries transparency is, what it can achieve, what the costs and benefits will be, and to whom. As such, attempts to realize the benefits that transparency promises for fisheries often struggle once they are systematically applied from concept through legislation to practice. This paper explores the various manifestations of transparency in the context of fisheries governance and management as well as its limitations. Subsequently, to provide clarity and broaden the transparency-related discourse, a simple framework is presented of the multifaceted nature of transparency in fisheries. This exploration is crucial because, when harnessed correctly, transparency has the potential to support a more sustainable and equitable future. However, realizing this potential requires deeper appreciation of the intricacies of transparency beyond surface-level interpretations.