Background to the Indonesian BSC FIP
2 link, because they use the value chain as a means to implement fisheries management. FIP
participants are typically chain actors after Bolwig et al., 2010 and have to use the structure of the value chain to create incentives to change through the value chain. Within FIPs, the connection
between the producers and global trade networks are important, since they determine the flow of commodity from the producers to the exporters and retailers, but also the reverse flow of
information from the exporters and retailers back to the producers. When communicating the information through the value chain FIP participants are confronted with
different actors that might capture and process information differently. Several studies have shown that fishers can have a different perception on the stock status than scientists due to the sources of
information they capture and the way they interpret that information among others, Neis et al., 1999; Verweij et al., 2010. Perception differences about the status of the stock and which
management measures would be effective have hindered multi-actor debates in finding appropriate management McClanahan et al., 2005; Verweij et al., 2010. Due to the different interpretation of
the stock status, actors had differing perceptions on what measures could improve the stock status and whether the stock status had to be improved in the first place. When a management measure is
implemented that is not in line with actors’ perception on the status of the stock, this might result in non-compliance.
In her study on FIPs, Doddema 2012: p.66 indicated that “[a]s FIPs are geared towards providing sustainable seafood for the international market, there is a chance that fishermen will not really
benefit from being sustainably managed.” It is exactly the response of the fishermen to the FIP management that will be investigated in this study. This will be done by looking at the role of
information and perceptions on the implementation of the FIP measures; i.e. on the process of changing practices of actors in the value chain. Since FIPs have to deal with a variety of actors along
different scales of the value chain it is deemed important to understand how the flows of information between these actors and perceptions of these actors influence the implementation of
the measures. Analysing the actors’ responses to the FIP measures and their perceptions on improvement should provide insight in whether they benefit from the FIP management. Additionally,
Doddema stated that in order to achieve their objectives, FIPs should consider the pre-existing relations and practices that shape fishers’ behaviour. In this study the practices of fishers in the value
chain will be mapped out. The flow of information from the global trade network will be analysed as well as the actors’ perceptions. These analyses should give insight in determining factors for the
practices of the actors. That way, they might contribute to the understanding of the previously introduced link between producers and the global network.