prateep nayak - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by prateep nayak

Research paper thumbnail of Happiness and Subjective Wellbeing: Explorations of Inherent Linkages

Research paper thumbnail of IPBES Sustainable Use of Wild Species Assessment - Chapter 3. Status of and trends in the use of wild species and its implications for wild species, the environment and people

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research), Jul 8, 2022

Research paper thumbnail of Exploring Water Quality as a Determinant of Small-Scale Fisheries Vulnerability

Sustainability

Water quality is a fundamental indicator of coastal ecosystem health. Maintaining appropriate lev... more Water quality is a fundamental indicator of coastal ecosystem health. Maintaining appropriate levels of water quality is critical for the growth of aquatic species and the livelihoods of dependent small-scale fishery (SSF) communities. However, natural (e.g., cyclones, floods) and hu-man-induced (e.g., hydrological changes, varied fishing techniques) factors create cumulative stress on these systems, leading to environmental and socioeconomic challenges. This often manifests as food insecurity, occupational displacement, and biodiversity loss. Despite existing research on coastal sustainability and resilience, the intricate connection between water-quality variations and social–ecological vulnerabilities remains understudied. This paper addresses this gap, focusing on the interplay between water quality changes and the vulnerabilities faced by SSF communities. Using the Chilika Lagoon in India as a case study, this synthesis paper examines water-quality processes and their impact on...

Research paper thumbnail of From vulnerability to viability: A situational analysis of small-scale fisheries in Asia and Africa

Research paper thumbnail of Mapping Social-Ecological-Oriented Dried Fish Value Chain: Evidence from Coastal Communities of Odisha and West Bengal in India

Coasts

The production and trade of dried fish are important sources of livelihood and employment for poo... more The production and trade of dried fish are important sources of livelihood and employment for poor people engaged in the dried fish value chain. More importantly, half of them are women. Dried fish makes a significant contribution to the food and nutrition security of the poor because it is high in calcium and other vital micronutrients. Despite its importance, work on the dried fish value chain (DFVC) continues to focus on financial value creation and linear interactions among market actors that impede the recognition of human rights, justice, food security, and power across the entire value chain. Such a neoclassical perspective on DFVC tends to undermine the complex human-nature interactions that are contingent upon specific histories, people, places, and practices. Poor fishers and dried fish processors placed at the extractive end of the value chain hold low power in the market and remain vulnerable to changing social-ecological system dynamics. The recent work on a hybrid fram...

Research paper thumbnail of Exploring Values and Beliefs in a Complex Coastal Social-Ecological System: A Case of Small-Scale Fishery and Dried Fish Production in Sagar Island, Indian Sundarbans

Frontiers in Marine Science

The survivability of the small-scale fishery and dried fish production in Indian Sundarbans, desp... more The survivability of the small-scale fishery and dried fish production in Indian Sundarbans, despite increasing threats posed by climate, environmental, economic, and policy drivers, suggests that they possess certain unique strengths and capabilities. One thread of these strengths is connected to the fact that Sundarbans’ fishery system is strongly anchored in the values and beliefs of the local fishing communities. There is, however, limited empirical information available on the prevailing individual and collective attitudes, expectations, traditions, customs, and, above all, values and beliefs that strongly influence local fishing communities of Sundarbans. This manuscript aims to address this gap by drawing on qualitative data to (1) map the nature of values and beliefs associated with the Sundarbans’ Sagar Island fishing communities who are engaged in small-scale fishery and dried fish production; and (2) highlight the contributions of values and beliefs to the small-scale fis...

Research paper thumbnail of Governance and the process of (de)commonisation

Making Commons Dynamic, 2021

Research paper thumbnail of Refugee Sponsorship and Canada’s Immigration Policy in Times of Climate Change

Local Activism for Global Climate Justice, 2019

Research paper thumbnail of Social learning for enhancing social-ecological resilience to disaster-shocks: a policy Delphi approach

Disaster Prevention and Management: An International Journal, 2021

PurposeThe plethora of contributions to social learning has resulted in a wide range of interpret... more PurposeThe plethora of contributions to social learning has resulted in a wide range of interpretations, meanings and applications of social learning, both within and across disciplines. However, advancing the concept and using social learning methods and tools in areas like disaster-shocks requires interdisciplinary consolidation of understandings. In this context, the primary focus of this paper is on the contributions of social learning to disaster risk reduction (DRR).Design/methodology/approachBy applying a three-round policy Delphi process involving 18 purposefully selected scholars and expert-practitioners, the authors collected data on the meanings of social learning for two groups of professionals, DRR and social-ecological resilience. The survey instruments included questions relating to the identification of the core elements of social learning and the prospects for enhancing social-ecological resilience.FindingsThe results revealed strong agreement that (1) the core elem...

Research paper thumbnail of Vulnerability to Viability (V2V) Global Partnership for building strong small-scale fisheries communities

Journal of the Inland Fisheries Society of India, 2020

Research paper thumbnail of Coastal Fishers Livelihood Behaviors and Their Psychosocial Explanations: Implications for Fisheries Governance in a Changing World

Frontiers in Marine Science, 2021

This research is a critical examination of the behavioral foundations of livelihood pathways over... more This research is a critical examination of the behavioral foundations of livelihood pathways over a 50-year time period in a multispecies fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Fishers make difficult decisions to pursue, enjoy, and protect their livelihoods in times of change and uncertainty, and the resultant behaviors shape efforts to advance sustainability through coastal and marine fisheries governance. However, there is limited evidence about fishers’ behavioral changes over long time periods, and the psychosocial experiences that underpin them, beyond what is assumed using neoclassical economic and rational choice framings. Our analysis draws on 26 narrative interviews with fishers who have pursued two or more fish species currently or formerly. Fishers were asked about their behavioral responses to change and uncertainty in coastal fisheries across their entire lifetimes. Their narratives highlighted emotional, perceptual, and values-oriented factors that shaped how fi...

Research paper thumbnail of The Principles of Transdisciplinary Research in Small-Scale Fisheries

Transdisciplinarity for Small-Scale Fisheries Governance, 2018

The diverse characteristics, values, and importance of small-scale fisheries imply at least two k... more The diverse characteristics, values, and importance of small-scale fisheries imply at least two key considerations. First, there is no tailor-made, one-size-fits-all solution to the problems and challenges facing small-scale fisheries; thus, policy and governance must be sensitive to the contexts. Second, the close relationship and interactivity between the natural and the social dimensions of small-scale fisheries suggests that knowledge and understanding about small-scale fisheries may need to transcend the boundaries of academic disciplines. These are the premises for research and activities conducted in the Too Big To Ignore (TBTI) – Global Partnership for Small-Scale Fisheries Research. Taking a transdisciplinary approach to research, training, and learning about small-scale fisheries can help address real-world problems and reveal opportunities to move towards pragmatic solutions. In this chapter, we discuss what transdisciplinarity involves, what the underlying principles are, and what makes it distinct from other perspectives. We argue that transdisciplinarity in small-scale fisheries requires institutional and academic innovation at local and national scales that facilitates interactive and transformative learning.

Research paper thumbnail of Framing commons as a process

Making Commons Dynamic, 2021

Research paper thumbnail of Linking social wellbeing and intersectionality to understand gender relations in dried fish value chains

Research paper thumbnail of Interplay Between Local and Global: Change Processes and Small-Scale Fisheries

Transdisciplinarity for Small-Scale Fisheries Governance, 2018

Important but neglected, small-scale fisheries remain vulnerable to a range of direct challenges,... more Important but neglected, small-scale fisheries remain vulnerable to a range of direct challenges, despite long-standing recognition of their multiple contributions to the economy and society. Global drivers contribute to vulnerabilities at local and regional levels, creating adverse changes, but these changes in turn may act as drivers that impact sustainability at higher levels. Thus, global drivers, and local and regional drivers can potentially impact each other in a two-way process. In this chapter, we discuss the interplay between local and global to explore the realities of small-scale fisheries. We use two empirical cases from the Bay of Bengal, east coast of India, to focus on (1) vulnerabilities experienced by small-scale fisheries, and (2) their existing strengths. We discuss possible strategies that can be used to build on the strengths of small-scale fisheries to counter the various vulnerabilities they face. Vulnerability is seen as a multidimensional, complex, highly dynamic, and relative concept, the study of which is highly inter- and trans-disciplinary. To this effect, we take a three-dimensional view of vulnerability that includes wellbeing, capitals, and resilience as measures to understand it, and provide a preliminary framework to help articulate viability in the context of small-scale fisheries. Given the complexity associated with global change drivers, small-scale fisheries will continue to remain vulnerable; however, we emphasise that they also have certain strengths. Identifying these strengths and building on them for long-term viability is an option that has not been fully explored.

Research paper thumbnail of Addressing Marine and Coastal Governance Conflicts at the Interface of Multiple Sectors and Jurisdictions

Frontiers in Marine Science, 2020

Research paper thumbnail of Intersectorality in the governance of inland fisheries

Ecology and Society, 2018

One of the defining characteristics of inland fisheries is that they are closely impacted by othe... more One of the defining characteristics of inland fisheries is that they are closely impacted by other essential human activities that rely on the same fresh or brackish water ecosystems, such as hydroelectricity generation and irrigated agriculture. Starting with the premise that an understanding of fisheries' interactions with these external sectors is in itself critical for achieving sustainability of the fisheries, this paper explores the topic of intersectoral governance and outlines an approach to analyzing the intricate and often challenging sector relationships. By drawing on examples of inland fisheries from around the world, the paper proposes four broad discursive mechanisms that can structure the study of the intersectoral dynamics, i.e., system characterization, valuation, power relations, and vertical policy interaction. A synthesis model then demonstrates their interwoven nature, revealing the way each mechanism influences one another as together they shape overall outcomes. It is apparent that analyses often need to be combined to advance more rigorous (and transdisciplinary) science and also inform appropriate courses for the governance of inland fisheries. Given the typically marginal position of fisheries in inland water-use discussions, we call for a more systematic understanding of intersectoral interactions to enhance the sector's resilience within the wider society and subsequently contribute to integrated governance of waterbodies.

Research paper thumbnail of Social-ecological regime shifts (SERS) in coastal systems

Ocean & Coastal Management, 2018

Regime shifts from one ecological state to another are often portrayed as sudden, dramatic, and d... more Regime shifts from one ecological state to another are often portrayed as sudden, dramatic, and difficult to reverse given the extent of substantial reorganizations in system structure, functions and feedbacks. However, most assessments of regime shifts in terrestrial and aquatic systems have emphasized their physical and/or biological dimensions. Our objective is to illustrate how equivalent concern with ecological and social processes can enhance our ability to understand and navigate 'social-ecological' regime shifts. We draw on two coastal lagoon systems experiencing rapid change to provide an empirical foundation for an initial analytical framework. Key issues we address include: 1) distinguishing underlying versus proximate drivers of rapid change (ecological and social); 2) considering appropriate scales of intervention; 3) considering the appropriate unit(s) for understanding regime shifts; 4) reflecting on social equity and the distribution of impacts (and benefits) of regime shifts; 5) assessing the influence of social power in the framing of and response to regime shifts; and 6) clarifying the role of management and governance in the context of rapid social-ecological change. Effective responses to social-ecological regime shifts will require a transition towards interdisciplinary research, inclusion of integrative and scale-specific suite of attributes for assessment, and interventions in management and governance approaches that are more multi-level, collaborative and adaptive.

Research paper thumbnail of Two faces of shrimp aquaculture: commonising vs. decommonising effects of a wicked driver

Maritime Studies, 2017

Much coastal fisheries literature supports the idea that shrimp aquaculture has the potential to ... more Much coastal fisheries literature supports the idea that shrimp aquaculture has the potential to cause considerable social and environmental destruction. The aim of the paper is to highlight the two faces of shrimp aquaculture as a wicked driver, emphasizing its potential role in activating systematic conversion of lagoon-based fisheries commons to non-commons and vice versa. We use the cases of aquacultureled privatisation in Chilika Lagoon, located in the Bay of Bengal area of India, and collective action surrounding shrimp aquaculture in Northwestern Sri Lanka. For both studies, data are collected through mixed research methods, including semi-directive interviews, focus group discussions, and participant observations. Our analysis shows clear evidence that shrimp aquaculture can potentially contribute to either making commons or losing commons depending on the context and influences of multi-level drivers. Aquaculture-led factors contributing to the process of losing commons in Chilika are: large-scale, individually owned aquaculture operations; encroachment of customary fishery commons; loss of commons rights (access and entitlements); breakdown of commons institutions; policy changes; caste politics and resource conflicts; ecological disturbances; change in fishing practices. In Sri Lanka, aquaculture related factors contributing to making commons are: coordinating discharge; built-in incentive for stewardship; multi-level commons institutions; collective decision-making; bottom-up management approach; mixed commons regime; and small-scale operations.

Research paper thumbnail of Living with social-ecological change: Experiences from global South and North

Research paper thumbnail of Happiness and Subjective Wellbeing: Explorations of Inherent Linkages

Research paper thumbnail of IPBES Sustainable Use of Wild Species Assessment - Chapter 3. Status of and trends in the use of wild species and its implications for wild species, the environment and people

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research), Jul 8, 2022

Research paper thumbnail of Exploring Water Quality as a Determinant of Small-Scale Fisheries Vulnerability

Sustainability

Water quality is a fundamental indicator of coastal ecosystem health. Maintaining appropriate lev... more Water quality is a fundamental indicator of coastal ecosystem health. Maintaining appropriate levels of water quality is critical for the growth of aquatic species and the livelihoods of dependent small-scale fishery (SSF) communities. However, natural (e.g., cyclones, floods) and hu-man-induced (e.g., hydrological changes, varied fishing techniques) factors create cumulative stress on these systems, leading to environmental and socioeconomic challenges. This often manifests as food insecurity, occupational displacement, and biodiversity loss. Despite existing research on coastal sustainability and resilience, the intricate connection between water-quality variations and social–ecological vulnerabilities remains understudied. This paper addresses this gap, focusing on the interplay between water quality changes and the vulnerabilities faced by SSF communities. Using the Chilika Lagoon in India as a case study, this synthesis paper examines water-quality processes and their impact on...

Research paper thumbnail of From vulnerability to viability: A situational analysis of small-scale fisheries in Asia and Africa

Research paper thumbnail of Mapping Social-Ecological-Oriented Dried Fish Value Chain: Evidence from Coastal Communities of Odisha and West Bengal in India

Coasts

The production and trade of dried fish are important sources of livelihood and employment for poo... more The production and trade of dried fish are important sources of livelihood and employment for poor people engaged in the dried fish value chain. More importantly, half of them are women. Dried fish makes a significant contribution to the food and nutrition security of the poor because it is high in calcium and other vital micronutrients. Despite its importance, work on the dried fish value chain (DFVC) continues to focus on financial value creation and linear interactions among market actors that impede the recognition of human rights, justice, food security, and power across the entire value chain. Such a neoclassical perspective on DFVC tends to undermine the complex human-nature interactions that are contingent upon specific histories, people, places, and practices. Poor fishers and dried fish processors placed at the extractive end of the value chain hold low power in the market and remain vulnerable to changing social-ecological system dynamics. The recent work on a hybrid fram...

Research paper thumbnail of Exploring Values and Beliefs in a Complex Coastal Social-Ecological System: A Case of Small-Scale Fishery and Dried Fish Production in Sagar Island, Indian Sundarbans

Frontiers in Marine Science

The survivability of the small-scale fishery and dried fish production in Indian Sundarbans, desp... more The survivability of the small-scale fishery and dried fish production in Indian Sundarbans, despite increasing threats posed by climate, environmental, economic, and policy drivers, suggests that they possess certain unique strengths and capabilities. One thread of these strengths is connected to the fact that Sundarbans’ fishery system is strongly anchored in the values and beliefs of the local fishing communities. There is, however, limited empirical information available on the prevailing individual and collective attitudes, expectations, traditions, customs, and, above all, values and beliefs that strongly influence local fishing communities of Sundarbans. This manuscript aims to address this gap by drawing on qualitative data to (1) map the nature of values and beliefs associated with the Sundarbans’ Sagar Island fishing communities who are engaged in small-scale fishery and dried fish production; and (2) highlight the contributions of values and beliefs to the small-scale fis...

Research paper thumbnail of Governance and the process of (de)commonisation

Making Commons Dynamic, 2021

Research paper thumbnail of Refugee Sponsorship and Canada’s Immigration Policy in Times of Climate Change

Local Activism for Global Climate Justice, 2019

Research paper thumbnail of Social learning for enhancing social-ecological resilience to disaster-shocks: a policy Delphi approach

Disaster Prevention and Management: An International Journal, 2021

PurposeThe plethora of contributions to social learning has resulted in a wide range of interpret... more PurposeThe plethora of contributions to social learning has resulted in a wide range of interpretations, meanings and applications of social learning, both within and across disciplines. However, advancing the concept and using social learning methods and tools in areas like disaster-shocks requires interdisciplinary consolidation of understandings. In this context, the primary focus of this paper is on the contributions of social learning to disaster risk reduction (DRR).Design/methodology/approachBy applying a three-round policy Delphi process involving 18 purposefully selected scholars and expert-practitioners, the authors collected data on the meanings of social learning for two groups of professionals, DRR and social-ecological resilience. The survey instruments included questions relating to the identification of the core elements of social learning and the prospects for enhancing social-ecological resilience.FindingsThe results revealed strong agreement that (1) the core elem...

Research paper thumbnail of Vulnerability to Viability (V2V) Global Partnership for building strong small-scale fisheries communities

Journal of the Inland Fisheries Society of India, 2020

Research paper thumbnail of Coastal Fishers Livelihood Behaviors and Their Psychosocial Explanations: Implications for Fisheries Governance in a Changing World

Frontiers in Marine Science, 2021

This research is a critical examination of the behavioral foundations of livelihood pathways over... more This research is a critical examination of the behavioral foundations of livelihood pathways over a 50-year time period in a multispecies fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Fishers make difficult decisions to pursue, enjoy, and protect their livelihoods in times of change and uncertainty, and the resultant behaviors shape efforts to advance sustainability through coastal and marine fisheries governance. However, there is limited evidence about fishers’ behavioral changes over long time periods, and the psychosocial experiences that underpin them, beyond what is assumed using neoclassical economic and rational choice framings. Our analysis draws on 26 narrative interviews with fishers who have pursued two or more fish species currently or formerly. Fishers were asked about their behavioral responses to change and uncertainty in coastal fisheries across their entire lifetimes. Their narratives highlighted emotional, perceptual, and values-oriented factors that shaped how fi...

Research paper thumbnail of The Principles of Transdisciplinary Research in Small-Scale Fisheries

Transdisciplinarity for Small-Scale Fisheries Governance, 2018

The diverse characteristics, values, and importance of small-scale fisheries imply at least two k... more The diverse characteristics, values, and importance of small-scale fisheries imply at least two key considerations. First, there is no tailor-made, one-size-fits-all solution to the problems and challenges facing small-scale fisheries; thus, policy and governance must be sensitive to the contexts. Second, the close relationship and interactivity between the natural and the social dimensions of small-scale fisheries suggests that knowledge and understanding about small-scale fisheries may need to transcend the boundaries of academic disciplines. These are the premises for research and activities conducted in the Too Big To Ignore (TBTI) – Global Partnership for Small-Scale Fisheries Research. Taking a transdisciplinary approach to research, training, and learning about small-scale fisheries can help address real-world problems and reveal opportunities to move towards pragmatic solutions. In this chapter, we discuss what transdisciplinarity involves, what the underlying principles are, and what makes it distinct from other perspectives. We argue that transdisciplinarity in small-scale fisheries requires institutional and academic innovation at local and national scales that facilitates interactive and transformative learning.

Research paper thumbnail of Framing commons as a process

Making Commons Dynamic, 2021

Research paper thumbnail of Linking social wellbeing and intersectionality to understand gender relations in dried fish value chains

Research paper thumbnail of Interplay Between Local and Global: Change Processes and Small-Scale Fisheries

Transdisciplinarity for Small-Scale Fisheries Governance, 2018

Important but neglected, small-scale fisheries remain vulnerable to a range of direct challenges,... more Important but neglected, small-scale fisheries remain vulnerable to a range of direct challenges, despite long-standing recognition of their multiple contributions to the economy and society. Global drivers contribute to vulnerabilities at local and regional levels, creating adverse changes, but these changes in turn may act as drivers that impact sustainability at higher levels. Thus, global drivers, and local and regional drivers can potentially impact each other in a two-way process. In this chapter, we discuss the interplay between local and global to explore the realities of small-scale fisheries. We use two empirical cases from the Bay of Bengal, east coast of India, to focus on (1) vulnerabilities experienced by small-scale fisheries, and (2) their existing strengths. We discuss possible strategies that can be used to build on the strengths of small-scale fisheries to counter the various vulnerabilities they face. Vulnerability is seen as a multidimensional, complex, highly dynamic, and relative concept, the study of which is highly inter- and trans-disciplinary. To this effect, we take a three-dimensional view of vulnerability that includes wellbeing, capitals, and resilience as measures to understand it, and provide a preliminary framework to help articulate viability in the context of small-scale fisheries. Given the complexity associated with global change drivers, small-scale fisheries will continue to remain vulnerable; however, we emphasise that they also have certain strengths. Identifying these strengths and building on them for long-term viability is an option that has not been fully explored.

Research paper thumbnail of Addressing Marine and Coastal Governance Conflicts at the Interface of Multiple Sectors and Jurisdictions

Frontiers in Marine Science, 2020

Research paper thumbnail of Intersectorality in the governance of inland fisheries

Ecology and Society, 2018

One of the defining characteristics of inland fisheries is that they are closely impacted by othe... more One of the defining characteristics of inland fisheries is that they are closely impacted by other essential human activities that rely on the same fresh or brackish water ecosystems, such as hydroelectricity generation and irrigated agriculture. Starting with the premise that an understanding of fisheries' interactions with these external sectors is in itself critical for achieving sustainability of the fisheries, this paper explores the topic of intersectoral governance and outlines an approach to analyzing the intricate and often challenging sector relationships. By drawing on examples of inland fisheries from around the world, the paper proposes four broad discursive mechanisms that can structure the study of the intersectoral dynamics, i.e., system characterization, valuation, power relations, and vertical policy interaction. A synthesis model then demonstrates their interwoven nature, revealing the way each mechanism influences one another as together they shape overall outcomes. It is apparent that analyses often need to be combined to advance more rigorous (and transdisciplinary) science and also inform appropriate courses for the governance of inland fisheries. Given the typically marginal position of fisheries in inland water-use discussions, we call for a more systematic understanding of intersectoral interactions to enhance the sector's resilience within the wider society and subsequently contribute to integrated governance of waterbodies.

Research paper thumbnail of Social-ecological regime shifts (SERS) in coastal systems

Ocean & Coastal Management, 2018

Regime shifts from one ecological state to another are often portrayed as sudden, dramatic, and d... more Regime shifts from one ecological state to another are often portrayed as sudden, dramatic, and difficult to reverse given the extent of substantial reorganizations in system structure, functions and feedbacks. However, most assessments of regime shifts in terrestrial and aquatic systems have emphasized their physical and/or biological dimensions. Our objective is to illustrate how equivalent concern with ecological and social processes can enhance our ability to understand and navigate 'social-ecological' regime shifts. We draw on two coastal lagoon systems experiencing rapid change to provide an empirical foundation for an initial analytical framework. Key issues we address include: 1) distinguishing underlying versus proximate drivers of rapid change (ecological and social); 2) considering appropriate scales of intervention; 3) considering the appropriate unit(s) for understanding regime shifts; 4) reflecting on social equity and the distribution of impacts (and benefits) of regime shifts; 5) assessing the influence of social power in the framing of and response to regime shifts; and 6) clarifying the role of management and governance in the context of rapid social-ecological change. Effective responses to social-ecological regime shifts will require a transition towards interdisciplinary research, inclusion of integrative and scale-specific suite of attributes for assessment, and interventions in management and governance approaches that are more multi-level, collaborative and adaptive.

Research paper thumbnail of Two faces of shrimp aquaculture: commonising vs. decommonising effects of a wicked driver

Maritime Studies, 2017

Much coastal fisheries literature supports the idea that shrimp aquaculture has the potential to ... more Much coastal fisheries literature supports the idea that shrimp aquaculture has the potential to cause considerable social and environmental destruction. The aim of the paper is to highlight the two faces of shrimp aquaculture as a wicked driver, emphasizing its potential role in activating systematic conversion of lagoon-based fisheries commons to non-commons and vice versa. We use the cases of aquacultureled privatisation in Chilika Lagoon, located in the Bay of Bengal area of India, and collective action surrounding shrimp aquaculture in Northwestern Sri Lanka. For both studies, data are collected through mixed research methods, including semi-directive interviews, focus group discussions, and participant observations. Our analysis shows clear evidence that shrimp aquaculture can potentially contribute to either making commons or losing commons depending on the context and influences of multi-level drivers. Aquaculture-led factors contributing to the process of losing commons in Chilika are: large-scale, individually owned aquaculture operations; encroachment of customary fishery commons; loss of commons rights (access and entitlements); breakdown of commons institutions; policy changes; caste politics and resource conflicts; ecological disturbances; change in fishing practices. In Sri Lanka, aquaculture related factors contributing to making commons are: coordinating discharge; built-in incentive for stewardship; multi-level commons institutions; collective decision-making; bottom-up management approach; mixed commons regime; and small-scale operations.

Research paper thumbnail of Living with social-ecological change: Experiences from global South and North