The Governance of the Angolan Industrial and Semi-industrial Fisheries. A Governability Assessment of the Commercial Fishery

Abstract

ABSTRACT Angola has a very long coastline, and shares the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem (BCLME) with Namibia and South Africa in the SADC region, one of the most productive LME in the world. The fauna is rich in small pelagic species, crustaceans and demersal fish community, explored by the commercial fishery. Understanding governability as a process of finding balance between the needs and capacities of the governing system, enables to devise ways of managing the challenges fisheries are confronted with. The aim of this study is therefore to look at the elements of fisheries management systems focusing at the governance systems of the Industrial and Semi-industrial fisheries of Angola, using the governability assessment framework rooted in the perspectives of interactive governance. The claims are that a better knowledge of the governing system, the system-to-be-governed and the interactions among them are determinant factors for an improved and qualitative governance of the Angolan commercial fishery. For more clarity on the characteristics of the systems under analysis and their interactions, semi-structured interviews with important stakeholders were conducted. After the analysis, the study reveals variations in some features of the systems (e.g. environmental variabilities, fishing pressure, scientific information and participation) that are key elements for the governability process. The study provides inspirational ideas on governance interactions that can enhance governability and the attainment of the goals set.

Keywords: Governability, Governability Assessment, Interactive Governance, Angolan Industrial and Semi-industrial Fisheries, System analysis.