Developing a framework for inclusive fisheries governance in India

Abstract

One of the main issues facing development theorists and policymakers in recent decades has been the depletion and degradation of Common Pool Resources (CPR). This is especially true in nations like India, where the vast majority of the rural poor depend on resources such as pastures, forests, groundwater, and others for their livelihoods. However, when it comes to common resources, governance and the selection of appropriate institutions for their management are two of the most important factors. This topic has generated extensive debate among social scientists, particularly mainstream economists. Some believe that when market arrangements fail, the state is the best option, while others argue that privatization is the only solution. It should be noted that, until the 1980s, most academics believed that users of these resources were incapable of organizing themselves for effective management; therefore, they recommended the imposition of government or private sector control. These discussions frequently assume that the boundaries between public, private, and communal forms of resource tenure are clearly defined.