Thesis outline Introduction Master Thesis Floor Bokkes November 2013

4 1. What information was used to formulate the objectives of the BSC FIP and why was this specific information used? This sub-question gives insight in what the BSC FIP is. This includes at first which actors are involved as BSC FIP participants and why, but also why the BSC FIP was established and what guidelines for implementing a FIP were followed. The long-term and short-term objectives and indicators for improvement will be analysed by means of the concept of Continuous Improvement. The definition of two of the short-term objectives or measures will be studied in detail in order to find out what information is used to define the FIP measures. The study of the two specific measures will be continued in the second sub-question, but then on the local scale actors within the fishery. 2. What is the effect of the BSC FIP on the practices of actors in the crab value chain and how can this be explained by the flow of information and the actors’ perceptions on these measures? This sub-question will provide insight in the effectiveness of the BSC FIP measures. First the practices of actors will be indicated and compared with the practices before the start of the FIP. It provides insights to whether the BSC FIP led to changes in the practices of actors in the value chain and the extent to which the practices changed as a result. The explanation for this will be sought in the flow of information and the perception of differing actors along the value chain. At first, the awareness of chain actors about the BSC FIP measures will be analysed. If the actors are not aware of the measures the communication of the FIP measures through the value chain was not effective. This can be an indication that perception differences or existing practices hampered the communication. If it turns out the actors were aware of the measures the communication of the measures through the value chain was effective. Then the perceptions on the measures will be explored. I assume that differing actors can have differing perceptions on a situation and on solutions for a problem. Since FIPs are implemented through the value chain, different actors are confronted with the fisheries management and the perceptions should give insight in the way different actors interpret, appreciate and evaluate the available information on the FIP. The actors’ perception on the measures will indicate how they appreciate the measures and can therefore reveal a possible explanation for their practices.

1.4 Thesis outline

This thesis consists of six chapters in which the BSC FIP and the extent to which it can lead towards improvement will be analysed. In chapter 2, the conceptual framework will be presented that will be used to analyse the results of the study. Chapter 3 is the methodology which includes how data for this study was collected. It will describe that the study consisted of two parts which are parallel with the two sub-question of the research and with chapter 4 and 5. In chapter 4, the results of the study to the definition of the BSC FIP objectives will be and analysed. In chapter 5, the implementation of the BSC FIP in a specific fishing village in Indonesia will be analysed. Chapter 6 is the final chapter of this thesis and comprises the discussion and conclusion of the study. Part of the discussion will be linking the findings of chapter 4 and 5 as well as an evaluation of the conceptual framework. Thereafter, the findings of this study will be extended by discussing implications for FIPs in general. The final part of chapter 6 will be the conclusion of this thesis in which the main question will be answered. 5 2 Conceptual framework

2.1 Introduction

The aim of this study is to analyse the capacity of FIPs to lead to improvement in a fishery. In order to analyse this, a conceptual framework will be built and explained in this chapter which should allow studying this movement towards improvement. The focus will be on how this movement towards improvement is influenced by the mutual relations between actors in the crab value chain. Therefore three different concepts will be combined, being the concepts of value chains, Continuous Improvement CI and of the information environment that shapes actors’ perceptions. Value chains will be used to define different scales of actors within the fishery. Value chains will be linked to the information environment as the chain relations on the one hand determine the information environment. On the other hand the information environment can identify how actors capture and process information they get and which mutual relations play a role in that. CI is used to show the approach of the FIP towards improvement. This is linked to the information environment and perceptions in order to identify why certain choices are made. Finally, this can be linked to value chains because different actors within the chain might have different perceptions on improvement, which has an influence on the success of the pathway towards achieving improvement. In order to put the analysis in the right context, first the term FIPs requires a more specific introduction than was given in the previous chapter in order to understand the subject of the study.

2.2 Fishery Improvement Projects - FIPs