Fisheries governance mode as a result of political ideologies: The case of the sardine fishery in North-East Venezuela

Abstract

When conducting social research in the four communities located in North-East Venezuela, it was understood through the course of communication that there was a very important issue affecting, in one way or another, the development of the sardine fishery: Governance. New formal fisheries institutions have been established since 1999 related with the election of the president Hugo Chavez in 1998. When studying governance it is the belief of the researcher that political principles and values give structure to the system. On that account, the question of how the existing fisheries governance has been formed as a result of the socio-political reforms taking place in Venezuela since 1998 becomes central. The State remains as the principal actor and controller of the interactions. Therefore, special attention is paid to the interactions between the State and the civil society, including the market. The organization of cooperatives and the supply of financial resources for fish extraction represent the base of the State’s programs. The future of governance in Venezuela is unclear, but signs that Venezuela might be moving towards “cooperativism” with high participation of the State exist. Nevertheless, the system can have its pitfalls. For that reason, the construction of partnerships between the State and cooperatives is a strategic alliance that might be successful if the relation is based on trust, equality, and mutual understanding and obligations.