Ph. D. Sebastian Linke
Institutionen för filosofi, lingvistik och vetenskapsteori
Göteborgs universitet

Projekt P10-0822:1 ,,Kunskapens sociala dimension..." 2010-2015

The project has by and large followed the outline of the original proposal. It studied how different stakeholders like scientists, fishermen and NGO representatives with their respective cultural knowledge backgrounds interact with each other at different levels of governance in the EU fisheries policy system. The central themes of communication and participation; knowledge-interaction and -integration into policy decisions and management have therewith been maintained.
The project has focused primarily on the EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) system and its Regional Advisory Councils (RACs), established as a result of a CFP reform in 2002 (after a new reform in 2013 the name has changed to merely Advisory Councils, ACs). It investigated the relationships between the different 'knowledge cultures' (i.e. scientific vs. fisher's knowledge) in EU fisheries management both on a theoretical level as well as in the actual communicative interactions between stakeholders in the daily practice of the RACs. The theoretical part of the project analysed the normative ambiguities that are arising between the concept of 'good governance' as proposed in EU policy-making and its actual integration in the practical processes of EU fisheries management at different levels. This tension has been examined and discussed in detail in various publications with respect to the procedural as well as the institutional consequences of establishing stakeholder participation and knowledge interaction in the CFP (cf. Linke & Jentoft 2013; 2014; forthcoming; Linke & Bruckmeier 2015).
By focusing empirically on the social dimensions of knowledge and stakeholder interactions in Swedish and European fisheries (cf. Linke & Jentoft 2013; Linke & Bruckmeier 2015), the project investigated how values, interests, worldviews of various stakeholders and the associated knowledge affects the relationship between fishermen's representatives, science (& scientists) and how this relationship impacts on the prospects for integrating different knowledge types into the policy system.
Despite the overall adherence to the objectives of the original project outline a number of adjustments both content-wise and in time-schedule have been made (see half-term report). As suggested by one reviewer of the original proposal (Petter Holm, University of Tromsø), a key focus of the project's investigations has been put on the Baltic Sea RAC. This focus has proven reasonable in order to allow for a deep and detailed ethnographic case study approach, especially because this RAC was not yet investigated to a similar degree as other RACs (e.g. North Sea, Pelagic or South Western Waters RACs), hence providing valuable insights and lessons from a hitherto rather unexplored case for further comparison. Moreover, as also suggested by reviewer Holm, a more detailed comparison between the EU and the US context with their so-called Regional Fishery Management Councils, has only been discussed in some of the publications while a more detailed ethnographic case study has been postponed for an empirical follow up project, for which additional funding has been sought (e.g. from the European Commissions Marie-Curie Program).
The investigations of stakeholder participation and knowledge integration in the EU fisheries policy system revealed a number of shortcomings both with regard to institutional design as well as with regard to procedural aspects. The three key results of the research project can be stated as: 1) exposing a need for more sophisticated 'responsibilisation' of stakeholders in the existing policy system (cf. Linke & Jentoft 2013; Linke & Bruckmeier 2014); 2) exemplifying how a lack of social science research and ignorance of stakeholder's experiential knowledge impacts negatively on the overall effectiveness of the policy system of EU fisheries management (e.g. Linke & Jentoft 2014; Linke et al. 2014) and 3) showing the importance and ways to adapt the policy system in order to allow for stakeholder's knowledge perspectives being taken more seriously into account for sustainable co-management of fisheries resources at different levels of EU fisheries (Linke et al. 2011; Linke & Bruckmeier 2015; Linke & Jentoft forthcoming).
These three key results of the research project support an increasing general awareness in EU fisheries governance and other policy domains emphasising i) a need for closer collaboration between science and various stakeholder groups in society such as e.g. the fishing industry and NGOs; ii) the relevance of the actual practical constraints for involving stakeholders and their knowledge perspectives into traditionally highly science based management systems as well as iii) a general need for more social science research in this field.
The project has generated a number of new research questions, for which further funding is and has been sought. Such new research questions should for example focus on how the rationales for stakeholder involvement in planning, policy- and decision-making processes interplay with the concrete technologies of such engagements (e.g. Metzger et al. forthcoming). Another new, innovative research focus, which the project has created, lies on the changing dynamics between science and societal developments, i.e. on the tensions between the production of basic scientific knowledge and its use in form of scientific advice for policy- and decision-making. These overarching research questions seem to be relevant and applicable for future research in the domain of EU fisheries governance and recent regional developments in the Baltic Sea in particular. A number of specific case studies, which have already been examined to some extent in this research project, could be re-fined for more detailed explorations of the research questions generated by this project. For these investigations further funding is currently being sought.
Besides the detailed investigations of EU RACs on the regional level (i.e. North or Baltic Sea), the project has also examined new local initiatives, so-called Fisheries Local Action Groups (FLAGs) established under the European Fisheries Fond and other, more informal collaborations between scientists and fishermen (cf. Linke & Bruckmeier 2015). This research included interviews with key actors of the fishing sector at local and community levels (i.e. FLAG and PO directors). The investigations in this direction clearly highlight a missing link between the small-scale fisheries sector and the community level and the regional level at which the RACs are established (cf. Linke & Bruckmeier 2015; Linke and Jentoft forthcoming). New contacts to on-going research projects focusing on the local and community level in Swedish fisheries have been established under the project period and will be followed-up in future collaborative research projects, if funding applications will be successful.
The project has been well anchored in the international research community, particularly through tight collaborations with the Norwegian College of Fisheries Science, where co-author Svein Jentoft is situated. Other international collaborations include researchers Marion Dreyer and Piet Sellke from Stuttgart/Germany, as well as more informal collaborations with researchers from Denmark (IFM at Aalborg University) and Wageningen University. The international positioning of the research project is proven also in the key outcomes like international journal articles and book chapters, and various international conference presentations, where the results were presented and discussed (see publication list). Furthermore prospective cross-Atlantic collaborations with US colleagues have been established (e.g. with Prof. Kevin St. Martin at Rutgers University) for comparative purposes on EU-US experiences in fisheries management, leading among other things to a Marie Curie application.
The project's results have also been presented outside academia and discussed with specific stakeholer groups such as fishermen and NGOs, particularily thorugh various initiatives coupled tor the developents of the RACs. Contacts with the general public have been reached e.g. through participation at the Gothenburg Science Festival and similar occasions (see publication list).
The two most important publications of the project are the following journal articles. First, the article ,,Ideals, realities and paradoxes of stakeholder participation in EU fisheries governance" by Linke & Jentoft (forthcoming) presents an extensive analysis of the EU fisheries policy system with respect to the RACs' potential to contribute to implementing the EU principles of good governance in the domain of fisheries management. The key analytical focus of this paper is on the unresolved tensions that arise between ideals of direct participation of stakeholders and the constraints that are created by establishing a system for stakeholder representation.
Second, the article ,,Co-management in fisheries e Experiences and changing approaches in Europe" by Linke and Bruckmeier (2015) presents an overarching analysis of current attempts for co-management in European fisheries. It entails a review of European literature on co-management and as well as case study analyses of RACs and FLAGs and thereupon discusses possibilities for future development of co- management in Europe with regard to the issues of knowledge integration in environmental governance.
The project has resulted in a number of publications in form of international journal articles, book chapters and an edited volume (see publication list). While the edited volume is being published under Springer "Open Access", the free availability of all publications is ensured by online publication in the Gothenburg Universities' publication centre GUP (https://gup.ub.gu.se/).

Publications

Sebastian Linke: Project Publications

Homepage: http://flov.gu.se/english/contact/staff/sebastian-linke
 
Peer reviewed journal articles
Linke, S. and Bruckmeier, K. (2015) Co-management in fisheries – Experiences and changing approaches in Europe. Ocean and Coastal Management 104, 170-181.
Linke, S. and Jentoft, S. (2014) Exploring the phronetic dimension of stakeholders’ knowledge in EU fisheries governance. Marine Policy, 47, 153-161.
Linke, S., M. Gilek, O. Udovyk and M. Karlsson (2014) Unravelling science-policy interactions in environmental risk governance of the Baltic Sea: comparing fisheries and eutrophication. Journal of Risk Research 17(4), 505-523.
Linke, S. and Jentoft, S. (2013) A communicative turnaround: Shifting the burden of proof in European fisheries governance. Marine Policy 38, 337-345.
Linke S., Dreyer M. and Sellke, P. (2011) The Regional Advisory Councils: What is their potential to incorporate stakeholder knowledge into fisheries governance? AMBIO 40: 133-43.

Peer reviewed book chapters
Sellke P. Dreyer M. Linke S. (2016 in press) Fisheries: a case study of Baltic Sea environmental governance. In: Gilek, M., Linke, S., Karlsson, M., Smolarz, K. Environmental Governance of the Baltic Sea. Springer.
Gilek, M. Karlsson,  M. Linke S. and Smolarz, K. (2016 in press) Environmental Governance of the Baltic Sea: an introduction to key challenges, research topics and analytical approaches. In: Gilek, M., Linke, S., Karlsson, M., Smolarz, K. Environmental Governance of the Baltic Sea. Springer.
Linke S. Gilek, M. and Karlsson, M. (2016 in press) Science-Policy Interfaces and Baltic Sea Environmental Governance: towards regional cooperation and coping with uncertainty? In: Gilek, M., Linke, S., Karlsson, M., Smolarz, K. Environmental Governance of the Baltic Sea. Springer.
Gilek, M., Karlsson, M., Udovyk, O. and Linke, S. (2015) Science and Policy in the Governance of Europe’s Marine Environment: The Impact of Europeanization, Regionalization and the Ecosystem Approach to Management. In: Gilek, M. and K. Kern. eds. Governing Europe’s Marine Environment. Europeanization of Regional Seas or Regionalization of EU Policies? pp. 141-162 Ashgate Publishing.
Linke S. (2012) Governance als Tragödie: Das Europäische Fischereimanagement und die Rolle der Wissenschaft in internationalen Umweltregimen (Governance as a Tragedy: European Fisheries Management and the Role of Science in Environmental Regimes) in: Morisse-Schilbach, M. and Halfmann, J. (eds.) Wissen, Wissenschaft und Global Commons. Konturen eines interdisziplinären Forschungsfeldes, Series Internationale Beziehungen Baden-Baden: Nomos.

Monographs and edited volumes
Gilek, M., Linke, S., Karlsson, M., Smolarz, K. (2016 in press) Environmental Governance of the Baltic Sea. MARE Publication Series. Springer.

Proceedings and reports (selection)
Gilek, M. Linke, S. Karlsson, M. Udovyk, O. Lundberg, C. Smolarz, K. Lemke, P. (2011) Interactions Between Risk Assessment and Risk Management for Environmental Risks in the Baltic Sea RISKGOV Deliverable 9, available at http://www.sh.se/riskgov
Gilek, M. et al. Environmental Risk Governance of the Baltic Sea (RISKGOV). RISKGOV Deliverable 12. available at http://www.sh.se/riskgov

Popular science articles and presentations (selection)
Linke, S. (2013) Låt fiskerinäringen ta större ansvar för fiskepolitiken! In: Havsbruk som håller i längden. 373-387 FORMAS Fokuserar, Forskningsrådet Formas.
Sebastian Linke Ge fiskarna större ansvar för fiskeförvaltningen! Comentary in: EXTRAKT Aktuell forskning förett hållbart samhälle, 05/06 2013, see http://www.extrakt.se/debatt-opinion/ge-fiskarna-storre-ansvar-for-fiskeforvaltningen/.
Sebastian Linke Hur stoppar vi överfisket? Låt fiskenäringen ta större ansvar för fiskepolitiken. Science Festival Gothenburg 26. April 2013.
Interview with Sebastian Linke published in: International Innovation (Sept. 2012), see: http://flov.gu.se/digitalAssets/1447/1447767_linke_ii-publication--p86-88--small-.pdf
Sebastian Linke Fiskarna, forskarna och beslutsfattande i EUs fiskeripolitik. (at European Maritime Day, May 2012 Gothenburg) see: http://europasmaritimadag.se/program/
Sebastian Linke Nya krav på fiskare och forskare i EU:s nya fiskeripolitik. Presentation at the Journalistseminarium: Havet – mer än bara yta. (University of Gothenburg, June 2011) Video available online: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTxx4isuQ4A

Conference presentations (selection)
Linke S. and Jentoft J. Stakeholder participation and representation – theoretical models and practical consequences for EU Advisory Councils. MARE conference Amsterdam 24-26. June 2015.
Arias Schreiber, M. and Linke, S. Selling the Commons: Evaluating the Economic, Environmental and Social Sustainability of Individual Transferable Quotas (ITQs) in Swedish fisheries. MARE conference Amsterdam 24-26. June 2015.
Linke, S. and Sandström, A. Integrating the social context in ecosystem-based
co-management: Knowledge inclusion at different scales of EU fisheries governance. ICES Annual Science Conference, La Coruna 14-19 Sept. 2014.
Linke, S. What makes an expert? Knowledge interaction and legitimate expertise in EU fisheries management. International Conference ‘Interpretative Policy Analysis’ University of Wageningen 3-5 July 2014.
Linke, S. and Jentoft S. The Social dimension of knowledge – exploring the scope for stakeholder inclusion to EU fisheries governance. MARE conference Amsterdam 26-28. June 2013.
Linke, S. Who is an expert? Knowledge interaction and legitimate expertise in EU fisheries management. MARE conference Amsterdam 26-28. June 2013.
Linke, S. Social dimensions of expertise: Challenges of knowledge communication and stakeholder participation in EU fisheries management. 4S/EASST Conference 16.-21. Oct. Copenhagen.
Linke S. New Demands for Science and other Stakeholders in Fisheries Governance: Implications of a “Reversed Burden of Proof” under a revised CFP. ICES Annual Science Conference, Gdansk 19-23. Sept. 2011.
Linke, S. and Jentoft S. The Communicative Turnaround in Fisheries Governance: Implications of “Reversing the Burden of Proof” for Stakeholder Interaction. MARE conference People and the Sea VI, Amsterdam 6-9 July 2011.
Linke S. Governance as a Tragedy: European Fisheries Management and the Role of Science in Environmental Regimes. International Studies Association Annual Convention, Montreal 15-19 March 2011.
Linke, S., Gilek, M., Karlsson, M. & Udovyk, O. Science-policy interfaces and the implementation of an ecosystem approach to the management of Europe’s marine environment. International Studies Association Annual Convention, Montreal 15-19 March 2011.

Invited talks
Det hållbara fiskets politik: kunskap kommunikation och deltagande. seminarium kring fiskeriförvaltning. Centrum för Havsforskning i Göteborg 20 June 2011.
The Science-Policy Interface in Fisheries Management: Lessons from Sociology and STS. (invited co-referent to keynote talk from Douglas C. Wilson “The science-policy interface in spatial management of the Dogger Bank”) Workshop on International and multidisciplinary challenges for an integrated maritime policy, Centre for Marine Policy, Leeuwarden, 2-4 Sept. 2009.

Work submitted or in progress
Linke S. and Jentoft S. Ideals, realities and paradoxes of stakeholder participation in EU fisheries governance. Submitted to Environmental Sociology.
Metzger, J. Soneryd L. and Linke S. Enacting legitimate concerns: an agnostic approach to stakeholder involvement in planning processes. submitted to Environment & Planning A.
Saunders F., Gilek M., and Linke S. Epistemic Communities and Environmental Governance in the Baltic Sea? Comparing the cases of eutrophication and fisheries management. submission planned to Environmental Science and Policy
Linke S. What makes an expert? Knowledge interaction and the problem of legitimate expertise in EU fisheries governance. under submission to Maritime Studies.