Steering Aquaculture Towards Sustainability: A Diagnostic Framework

The Aquaculture Governance Indicators (AGI)

The Aquaculture Governance Indicators (AGI) offer a fresh perspective on how we can guide the aquaculture sector toward a sustainable future. While numerous policies and tools exist, many focus narrowly on farm-level performance and compliance, neglecting the crucial role of collaboration and broader societal influence.

The AGI provides a comprehensive diagnostic framework of 26 indicators to assess governance performance in any country. This framework allows for a deep dive into the complex interplay between public and private actors, evaluating their impact on the sector's sustainability.

Unveiling Governance Gaps: Disease Management in Salmon Aquaculture

The AGI framework's power is showcased through a case study examining disease management in salmon aquaculture in Norway, Chile, and Canada – three of the world's leading producers. Despite robust legislation and state-industry collaboration, a lack of coordination and limited civil society engagement hinder effective action against systemic risks like disease outbreaks.

While all three countries demonstrate a strong foundation in legislation related to aquaculture, variations exist in the specifics. Norway boasts the most detailed regulations, while Canada relies on provincial legislation and Chile adopted a more prescriptive approach following a significant disease crisis.

The adoption and impact of voluntary codes and standards like the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) also differ among the three nations. While these standards aim to improve practices, their effectiveness is hampered by a lack of reporting on cumulative impacts and limited alignment with national legislation in some cases.

Collaborative arrangements, while present, often operate in silos, limiting their overall efficacy. Industry associations play a vital role in information sharing, but broader stakeholder engagement, particularly with civil society, remains a significant weakness.

Governance Capabilities: Strengths and Shortcomings

The salmon industries in all three countries possess strong governance capabilities, particularly in innovation, driven by industry initiatives and supported by state research. However, the ability to adapt to change and translate learning into action is constrained. This limitation is further exacerbated by a lack of effective communication with NGOs and other critical stakeholders, hindering the industry's efforts to gain wider societal acceptance.

Analyzing Governance Principles: Legitimacy, Effectuation, and Coordination

The AGI framework assesses governance based on three core principles. Analysis reveals that while effectuation, the ability to identify and exploit opportunities, scores relatively well, legitimacy and coordination are significant areas for improvement across all three salmon-producing countries. This imbalance undermines the sector's overall ability to effectively address shared risks.

The legitimacy of disease management measures primarily stems from state authority rather than industry initiatives, impacting public trust and hindering collaboration with civil society groups. Furthermore, low coordination scores underscore fragmented efforts and a lack of consistency in mitigating disease risks, particularly beyond the farm level.

The AGI's Broader Implications: A Tool for Transformation

The AGI framework offers valuable insights for strengthening aquaculture governance, promoting collective problem-solving, and fostering greater societal trust. By providing a systematic and comparative analysis, the AGI highlights common drivers and barriers, paving the way for more effective and sustainable management practices.

The AGI's potential extends beyond the aquaculture sector, offering a valuable lens for assessing and improving governance across food systems. Its focus on collaborative interactions and systemic change is crucial for achieving broader social, environmental, and nutritional goals.

The AGI’s future development will focus on expanding its application across various aquaculture species and geographical regions, contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of global aquaculture governance. This expansion will further enhance the framework's potential to identify best practices and drive sustainable transformations within the sector.