The co-production of power and knowledge around the mussel fisheries transition in the Dutch Wadden Sea

Governance practices are places where knowledge and power interconnect. In this paper, the stabilization of a governance practice concerning mussel fisheries in the Dutch Wadden Sea is described and analyzed in terms of the co-production of knowledge and power. In this governance practice, environmental NGO’s, the Dutch government and the mussel fisheries sector collaborate to materialize a transition towards sustainable mussel fisheries in 2020. Power is analyzed using a three layer model of power and knowledge is analyzed in terms of the characteristics of two different knowledge systems involved in the transition. In terms of power, the practice stabilized as the result of a power struggle between NGO’s (wielding power through the legal framework) and the fisheries sector (wielding power through politics and public support). In terms of knowledge, there are clear differences between the knowledge systems of the NGO’s and the fishermen. These knowledge systems were connected in the governance practice, e.g. by means of joint fact finding. However, some frictions between the knowledge systems remain, for instance in dealing with uncertain and ambiguous issues, such as issues of risk management. The case described and analyzed here illustrates the variety of ways in which knowledge and power are co-produced around and within environmental governance