Limits to participation? On the history, structure and reform of Norwegian fisheries management

Norwegian fisheries management is best characterized as a system of centralized consultation. The ultimate authority to manage lies with central government, albeit with a significant element of power sharing through corporatist arrangements facilitating the participation–in management decision-making—of a select group of stakeholders. This structure has been criticized for fostering a decision-making process that favours user-groups at the expense of other legitimate stakeholders. Transparency and inclusiveness are currently being hailed as core values of the ideal management process, and there are demands for broader representation in management decision-making. In this paper we address some of the questions and dilemmas pertaining to institutional reform in Norwegian fisheries management, tracing the roots as well as the core structures and procedures of the current system. We identify the major challenges being faced by established institutions, and conclude with a discussion of the pros and cons of a more transparent and democratic process.