Hybrid governance in aquaculture: Certification schemes and third party accreditation

• Published in: Aquaculture Vol. 507; pp. 322 - 328
• Main Authors: Vince, Joanna, Haward, Marcus
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 30-05-2019
• Subjects: Aquaculture Stewardship Council; Corporate social responsibility; Hybrid governance; Social license to operate; Third party certification; Corporate social responsibility; Third party certification; Social license to operate; Aquaculture Stewardship Council; Hybrid governance
• ISSN: 0044-8486; 1873-5622
• DOI: 10.1016/j.aquaculture.2019.04.041

Certification and third party accreditation schemes are examples of private-social partnerships that make up a form of hybrid governance. We argue that hybrid governance is changing the way traditional governance is being utilised. In this paper we examine the rise of third party certification and the challenges these governance arrangements bring to traditional governance. We examine this through analysis of the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) and the application of the ASC standard in salmonid aquaculture in Tasmania, Australia. This example emphasises that market and consumer engagement is challenging government policies and posing key questions over the role of traditional state practice in the evaluation of sustainable aquaculture. A key factor, however, underpinning such engagement is trust. Thus ASC certification is likely to be a necessary, but not a sufficient, condition supporting the granting of social license to operate.
•Hybrid governance supporting third party certification does not guarantee social license.•Trust is an essential element of social license which a community can grant or withhold social license.•Markets and consumers are challenging government policies in the evaluation of sustainable fisheries and aquaculture.