Coastal community based decision-making : values for sustainable coastal zone management

Abstract

The main thrust of this thesis is to argue for the need for coastal community based resource management. While government has been developing "action" oriented programs such as the Atlantic Coastal Action Program (ACAP), they have not succeeded in bringing the resource users--the people dependent on the ocean for a livelihood--to the decision-making process. This thesis argues that community based management is our best opportunity for sustainable resource decision-making.

The barriers in communication between government agencies and the differing values between bureaucrats and people in coastal communities perpetuate mistrust. The increase in mistrust is directly related to an increase in boundary setting as different groups feel threatened. Bureaucracy defines its boundaries explicitly through legislation, policies, written rules and regulations. This rigid and explicit definition of boundaries is related to the underlying values of instrumental rational decision making.

The invisible boundaries of embedded communities however, contribute to their vulnerability. Implicit values and decision-making based on trust is highly susceptible to exploitation. Although communication patterns are clear when individuals share the same values, when differing values are imposed upon community based decision-making processes, it is difficult to defend the invisible community boundaries. This explains the vulnerability of community based fishery management. Without legal enforcement or formalized agreements, traditional informal rules and regulations are dismissed or over ruled by rigid government boundaries.

The significance of these findings is the demonstration that community based management is capable of being more sustainable than government management, if value rational decision-making is strong enough to maintain instrumental decision-making within the boundaries of the community interest. This thesis demonstrates how embedded communities still maintain essential parts of the value rational decision-making framework. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)