Senghor, Khadidiatou ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7182-9399 and Schlüter, Achim ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0046-7263 (2026) Unpacking power dynamics and actor interactions across fisheries and marine protected areas governance: a comparative study of Saint Louis and Sangomar, Senegal. Maritime Studies, 25 (3). p. 44. DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s40152-026-00501-z.

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Abstract

This paper investigates the power dynamics and actor interactions shaping the governance of fisheries and marine protected areas (MPAs) in Senegal, with a comparative focus on two key sites: Saint Louis and Sangomar. Governance in these areas involves the overlapping mandates of multiple institutions, including conservation-focused policies led by the Ministry of Environment -and Sustainable Development and fisheries management overseen by the Ministry of Fisheries and Maritime Economy. Additionally, local governance bodies such as artisanal fishing committees, fishing associations, and marine protected area management committees add further complexity to the governance landscape. Using qualitative content analysis, this study explores three central questions: (1) What are the linkages among the various actors involved in fisheries and conservation collective action? (2) How does power manifest in the relationships between these actors? (3) How do actors’ positions and decisions influence collective action? The study draws on data collected through interviews, focus group discussions, and participant observations, offering a rich qualitative perspective on governance dynamics. Preliminary findings reveal stark differences between the governance structures in Saint Louis and Sangomar. Governance in Saint Louis is marked by a limited interaction among actors, weak adherence to conservation efforts, and the predominance of commercial fishing. In contrast, Sangomar displays a stronger community participation, active involvement of women, and an emphasis on subsistence fishing. Power relations in Saint Louis are hierarchical and rooted in traditional authority, whereas in Sangomar they are more distributed, driven by cooperative values and collective decision-making. By empirically operationalizing a multidimensional power framework, the paper shows how institutional coexistence alone does not explain governance outcomes, and how power relations mediate the effectiveness and legitimacy of fisheries and MPA governance. Rather than separating fisheries governance from MPA governance, the study examines how actors navigate overlapping conservation and fisheries institutions across interconnected coastal spaces.

Document Type:	Article
Programme Area:	PA1
Research affiliation:	Institutional and Behavioural Economics
Refereed:	Yes
Document Access:	Open access
DOI:	https://doi.org/10.1007/s40152-026-00501-z
ISSN:	1872-7859
Date Deposited:	20 Jul 2026 09:42
Last Modified:	20 Jul 2026 09:42
URI:	https://cris.leibniz-zmt.de/id/eprint/6248

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