Interactive governance mediates transboundary fisheries under climate change

Transboundary fisheries governance is a complex challenge due to the rapidly changing dynamics of the ocean environment. Yet regional fisheries bodies (RFBs) are expected to ensure the long-term conservation and sustainable exploitation of shared stocks. Given the levels of institutional fragmentation in ocean governance systems, global fisheries governance institutions have often failed to prevent overexploitation

and protect fish stocks. This challenge is particularly acute in regions with less research and governance capacity, such as lower income states. We conducted a systematic literature review and targeted policy document assessment of RFBs in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region to identify key barriers to addressing global sustainability challenges among fisheries governance institutions in the face of climate

change. Our assessment shows that the fragmented and nonhierarchical (decentralized) fisheries governance system in the WIO is ill-equipped to foster a regional strategy for climate mitigation and adaptation. While differences in institutional characteristics, policy frameworks, and evolution of conservation and management measures do not hinder international cooperation across RFBs, they highlight the need for interactive governance as a basis for multi-stakeholder collaboration. Indeed, instead of the top-down blueprint of global approaches, where lower levels of

governance institutions are expected to adopt guidelines and recommendations of international bodies, an interactive approach provides for greater learning and crossinfluence among different units, levels, and forms of governance institutions.