302
R. Mahon and P. McConney
Introduction
The Interactive Governance Approach to Fisheries
The interactive governance approach emphasizes the importance of considering
the entire fi sh chain from the resource in the water to the consumer and all of the
interconnections (Kooiman et al. 2005 ) . Its de fi nition of governance emphasizes
interactions, “G overnance is the whole of public as well as private interactions… ”
(Kooiman et al. 2005 ) . It views the fi sheries system or ‘ fi sh chain’ as consisting of a
system-to-be-governed, a governing system and governing interactions that connect
them, including feedback (see Chap. 2 , Fig. 2.1 ). The reality of this perspective is
rather complex. The system-to-be-governed and governing system overlap, as many
members are common to both groups and switch roles. They are both givers and
receivers of governing interactions, as well as being involved in non-governing
transactions that consist of goods, services and various forms of payment with pervasive positive and negative feedback.
Dealing with this complexity of interactions in a way that is useful for assessing
and ultimately in fl uencing governance is a critical question that must be addressed
in the operationalization of the interactive governance approach if it is to become a
basis for useful interventions to improve governance. In order to pursue this aim, the
concept of governability has been introduced in concert with the interactive governance approach (Kooiman et al. 2008 ; Mahon 2008 ) . This concept aims to encourage the assessment of fi shery systems from the interactive governance approach
perspective by considering the full spectrum of interactive governance approach
components, i.e. taking a holistic approach to the extent to which the governing
system and the governing interactions have the capacity to provide governance
given their characteristics.
In this paper we suggest that one way to operationalize the interactive governance approach may be to view the entire system as a network. Operationalizing the
interactive governance approach in practical terms and techniques that are easily
accessible to interested parties strengthens its utility as a conceptual framework.
Accessibility encourages the development of a body of knowledge needed to test
and learn from the application of the interactive governance approach. In the following sections, networks and analysis are introduced before discussing their application to the interactive governance approach. We especially invite resource managers
and researchers to test this perspective.
Networks and Network Analysis
Networks are entities linked by relationships that tie them together into a web-like
structure. Networks are found everywhere in nature and human society, and they are
conceptualized as analytical tools in many disciplines and professions, ranging from
R. Mahon and P. McConney
Introduction
The Interactive Governance Approach to Fisheries
The interactive governance approach emphasizes the importance of considering
the entire fi sh chain from the resource in the water to the consumer and all of the
interconnections (Kooiman et al. 2005 ) . Its de fi nition of governance emphasizes
interactions, “G overnance is the whole of public as well as private interactions… ”
(Kooiman et al. 2005 ) . It views the fi sheries system or ‘ fi sh chain’ as consisting of a
system-to-be-governed, a governing system and governing interactions that connect
them, including feedback (see Chap. 2 , Fig. 2.1 ). The reality of this perspective is
rather complex. The system-to-be-governed and governing system overlap, as many
members are common to both groups and switch roles. They are both givers and
receivers of governing interactions, as well as being involved in non-governing
transactions that consist of goods, services and various forms of payment with pervasive positive and negative feedback.
Dealing with this complexity of interactions in a way that is useful for assessing
and ultimately in fl uencing governance is a critical question that must be addressed
in the operationalization of the interactive governance approach if it is to become a
basis for useful interventions to improve governance. In order to pursue this aim, the
concept of governability has been introduced in concert with the interactive governance approach (Kooiman et al. 2008 ; Mahon 2008 ) . This concept aims to encourage the assessment of fi shery systems from the interactive governance approach
perspective by considering the full spectrum of interactive governance approach
components, i.e. taking a holistic approach to the extent to which the governing
system and the governing interactions have the capacity to provide governance
given their characteristics.
In this paper we suggest that one way to operationalize the interactive governance approach may be to view the entire system as a network. Operationalizing the
interactive governance approach in practical terms and techniques that are easily
accessible to interested parties strengthens its utility as a conceptual framework.
Accessibility encourages the development of a body of knowledge needed to test
and learn from the application of the interactive governance approach. In the following sections, networks and analysis are introduced before discussing their application to the interactive governance approach. We especially invite resource managers
and researchers to test this perspective.
Networks and Network Analysis
Networks are entities linked by relationships that tie them together into a web-like
structure. Networks are found everywhere in nature and human society, and they are
conceptualized as analytical tools in many disciplines and professions, ranging from