Exploring power dynamics and bricolage practices in diverse cases of marine resource conflicts

Fred Saunders^1*Deborah Prado²Maaike Knol-Kauffman³Merle Sowman⁴Ralph Tafon¹Michael Gilek¹

• ¹Södertörn University, Huddinge, Sweden
• ²Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
• ³Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Oslo, Norway
• ⁴University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa

This study investigates how bricolage practices challenge institutional arrangements and power dynamics in transformations of marine resource conflicts. Strategies for economic growth based on underpinning blue economy narratives are driving marine conflicts and shaping their dynamics in diverse ways. There has been limited study on how a variety of affected actors are acting to transform marine conflicts towards institutionalized, sustainable and equitable outcomes. In response, this study explores the power dynamics of how fisher bricoleurs in concert with others, such as NGOs, are creatively drawing on resources to shape marine conflicts in Norway, Brazil and South Africa. These are collaborative efforts by fishers with others to amplify their voices, enhance accountability, and address conflicts more equitably and sustainably. The bricolage power framework adopted for studying marine sustainability conflicts underscores the importance of collective action and collaborative partnerships to change conflict relations and outcomes by challenging various institutional practices and dominant power structures. In particular, the Brazilian and South African cases demonstrate how marginalized actors, through creative bricolage practices, can adapt and reinvent regulatory processes to challenge unjust practices and foster more inclusive and adaptive governance structures. However, we urge caution about being overly optimistic regarding the sustainability of these shifts. While grassroots actors in concert with others have shown potential to reform institutions toward more sustainable and equitable relations, these efforts remain isolated and arguably have not led to systematic transformations in the respective cases discussed here.