New Publication - Stahl and Hinkel: Collective action for the conservation of non-target species in the German Baltic Sea
Stahl, J. K., & Hinkel, J. (2026). Collective action for the conservation of non-target species in the German Baltic Sea. Ecology and Society, 31(2). https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-16850-310214
The conservation of marine species not targeted but adversely affected by fishing (e.g., through bycatch) is often limited to the designation of marine protected areas or gear regulations via top-down government regulation. Contrary to this general rule, fisheries associations, a nongovernmental information center, and Schleswig-Holstein’s Ministry of the Environment signed a voluntary agreement for the protection of harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) and diving sea ducks in the German Baltic Sea. This paper uses document analysis and stakeholder interviews to understand what motivated fishers to self-organize and how conservation measures were enforced. It draws on the Institutional Analysis and Development framework to trace the emergence of the voluntary agreement. We find that two main drivers shaped conservation efforts. First, the voluntary agreement was a strategic reaction from fishers to avoid formal fishing regulations. Second, policy brokerage and recurring interactions between key actors across multiple action situations enabled a transition from a threat-driven motivation to mutual trust and shared mental models. We conclude that some top-down incentive may be necessary for initiating collective action to protect non-target species. Methodologically, the case demonstrates that incorporating actors’ positions within the policy process into institutional analysis helps explain how actors overcome deadlocks and foster cooperation.