Communication strategies for managing coastal fisheries conflicts in Bangladesh

Abstract

Fisheries management involves balancing the competing demands of different users of fishery resources. Conflicts among fisheries stakeholders arise due to differences in power, interests, values, priorities, and manner of resource exploitation. Conflicts also emanate from institutional failures in managing fisheries and enforcing laws and regulations. Effective targeted communication has a key role to play in managing conflicts between fisheries stakeholders. This paper assesses a fisheries conflict communication framework called FishCom, a tool for developing plans and strategies for managing conflicts in coastal fisheries in Bangladesh. FishCom is a structured participatory process intended for use by policymakers and fishery managers. The results show that effective communication plans can play a significant role in eliminating conflicts.