Transnational Localism: Empowerment through Standard Setting in Small-Scale Fisheries

Abstract

In order to advance both the mapping and theorizing of transnational law, this article considers a range of tactics used by small-scale fisheries (SSFs) in Europe and North America to improve market access, political influence, and legal recognition. Transnational law enables the framing of initiatives not only as implementation practices that occur as a result of international law, but also as transnational regulation in support of SSFs. The article uses the case study of SSFs to draw attention to the rise of ‘transnational localism’. This is defined as the reinforcement of local-specific approaches (reflecting local ecologies, values, and socio-economic specificities) within a transnational structure that provides support and recognition. It offers an alternative to the view that globalization necessitates global, uniform regulatory solutions. Transnational localism challenges the fascination with large certification schemes such as that administered by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) in fisheries governance. It implies a need to reconcile transnational challenges with heterogeneous values and community approaches. To capture the simultaneous demand for the local and transnational within transnational law, this article proposes treating the described empowerment tactics within the scope of transnational standards. This requires a rethinking of standards away from fixed technical rules that are uniformly applicable across the globe.

Sustainable small-scale fisheries markets in the Mediterranean: weaknesses and opportunities

“…Indeed, with the regulatory frame not providing sufficient diversification of SSF products, a number of dissimilar marketing activities related to branding, marketing and the retailing of SSF products have been observed in various parts of the world, framed as alternative seafood marketing programmes (Duggan et al 2020 ; Witter and Stoll 2017 ) or SSF market empowerment tactics (Penca 2019 ). The Mediterranean provides one vibrant region where several actions to better distinguish market and sell SSF products have emerged, yet the actions are often very limited in scope.…”

“…As such, they are factors that contribute to improved fisheries management (Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) 2019 ). The changes instigated by SSF market initiatives have so far reported as resulting in strengthening a stronger SSF community identity (Duggan et al 2020 ) and empowering the SSF as a stakeholder in policymaking (Penca 2019 ).…”

“…seafood campaigns, ecolabelling) has largely avoided taking specific account of SSF (Penca 2020 ), and the strengthening of the SSF sector was instead delegated to the policy domain. However, growing literature is exploring markets by SSF as venues of a sustainability transition, alongside regulation of access to fishery resources (Stoll et al 2015 ; Bolton et al 2016 ; Witter and Stoll 2017 ; Penca 2019 ; Duggan et al 2020 ). This article contributes to this literature by presenting the dual nature of markets for SSF—as both an obstacle and an emerging opportunity for their empowerment and adjustment.…”

Mainstreaming Sustainable Consumption of Seafood Through Enhanced Mandatory Food Labeling

“…Apart from the eco-labels, other initiatives exist to provide visibility to certain types of seafood products in the market, specially to differentiate the products by small-scale fishers. Initiatives have emerged in different parts of the world, and include novel approaches to re-organizing the supply chain at stages of branding, marketing, and selling the product, including creating own labels (Witter and Stoll, 2017;Penca, 2019;Duggan et al, 2020). Most of such initiatives are local and territoryembedded, even if capitalized on through an international network, such as Slowfood.…”

Protecting the Tangible and Intangible Values of Transnational Environmental Spaces

“…Jerneja Penca's article, 'Transnational Localism: Empowerment through Standard Setting in Small-Scale Fisheries', provides a case study of pioneering efforts by local actors to engage with transnational structures as a means to protect and strengthen local strategies of natural resource management. 52 Moreover, the ability of small-scale fisheries to set their own standards and develop other management and marketing strategies fosters a degree of empowerment and representation in transnational legal processes that is absent from the traditional workings of law. 53 Nevertheless, the local fisheries' initiatives studied by Penca have been able to thrive partially as a result of the presence of strong governance structures in Europe and North America.…”