Negotiating trade-offs in dam development in the Mekong: Implications for fisheries and fishery-based livelihoods

A revitalised hydropower development narrative is emerging in the Mekong in which the concept of ‘trade-offs’ plays a central role. The importance of and risks to capture fisheries in the Mekong is such that any degradation has huge social, economic and environmental implications. While potential im...

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Main Authors: Friend, R.M., Blake, D.J.H.
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: IWA Publishing 2009
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/17428
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author Friend, R.M.
Blake, D.J.H.
author_browse Blake, D.J.H.
Friend, R.M.
author_facet Friend, R.M.
Blake, D.J.H.
author_sort Friend, R.M.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description A revitalised hydropower development narrative is emerging in the Mekong in which the concept of ‘trade-offs’ plays a central role. The importance of and risks to capture fisheries in the Mekong is such that any degradation has huge social, economic and environmental implications. While potential impacts of hydropower development on capture fisheries are acknowledged in this emerging narrative, it is argued that these are less than anticipated previously, that impacts can be assessed, mitigation measures introduced and trade-offs negotiated. The concept of trade-offs has an immediate appeal but it is also problematic. It draws attention away from considering development objectives and options towards focusing on impacts, and infers a technical approach as opposed to a political process of decision making. This paper draws on anthropological approaches to development policy to consider the implications of a hydropower narrative based on trade-offs in light of experience in the Mekong Basin, and to consider alternative ways of framing debate on hydropower and capture fisheries.
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spelling CGSpace174282024-05-01T08:19:18Z Negotiating trade-offs in dam development in the Mekong: Implications for fisheries and fishery-based livelihoods Friend, R.M. Blake, D.J.H. A revitalised hydropower development narrative is emerging in the Mekong in which the concept of ‘trade-offs’ plays a central role. The importance of and risks to capture fisheries in the Mekong is such that any degradation has huge social, economic and environmental implications. While potential impacts of hydropower development on capture fisheries are acknowledged in this emerging narrative, it is argued that these are less than anticipated previously, that impacts can be assessed, mitigation measures introduced and trade-offs negotiated. The concept of trade-offs has an immediate appeal but it is also problematic. It draws attention away from considering development objectives and options towards focusing on impacts, and infers a technical approach as opposed to a political process of decision making. This paper draws on anthropological approaches to development policy to consider the implications of a hydropower narrative based on trade-offs in light of experience in the Mekong Basin, and to consider alternative ways of framing debate on hydropower and capture fisheries. 2009-03-01 2012-06-04T06:21:37Z 2012-06-04T06:21:37Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/17428 en Limited Access IWA Publishing Friend, R.M. and Blake, D.J.H. 2009. Negotiating trade-offs in water resources development in the Mekong Basin: Implications for fisheries and fishery-based livelihoods. Water Policy 11(1): 13–30.
spellingShingle Friend, R.M.
Blake, D.J.H.
Negotiating trade-offs in dam development in the Mekong: Implications for fisheries and fishery-based livelihoods
title Negotiating trade-offs in dam development in the Mekong: Implications for fisheries and fishery-based livelihoods
title_full Negotiating trade-offs in dam development in the Mekong: Implications for fisheries and fishery-based livelihoods
title_fullStr Negotiating trade-offs in dam development in the Mekong: Implications for fisheries and fishery-based livelihoods
title_full_unstemmed Negotiating trade-offs in dam development in the Mekong: Implications for fisheries and fishery-based livelihoods
title_short Negotiating trade-offs in dam development in the Mekong: Implications for fisheries and fishery-based livelihoods
title_sort negotiating trade offs in dam development in the mekong implications for fisheries and fishery based livelihoods
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/17428
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