ABSTRACT
This qualitative case study explores how Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) standards, as a global seafood supply chain governance mechanism, may enable sustainable local fishery practices in Arctic waters. Through the lenses of a “following standards” framework suggested by institutional theorists, this in-depth study shows a consensus between MSC global standards and local fishery practices in the Russian Barents Sea. Data from nine semi-structured interviews and archival materials were analyzed.
Our findings revealed the multiplicity of governance arrangements, e.g., transparency, auditing, broad actor participation, trust, and mutual responsibility, that served as incentives for emerging integration mechanisms. These facilitated translating the symbolic power of sustainability tools created by MSC into a more socially responsible attitude to fishing activities in the Russian Barents Sea, instead of imposing coercive pressure on fishermen. This has resulted in changes in local practices and the proliferation of private rules and standards beyond national government regulations. We also found that the integration of MSC standards’ guidelines, scientific expertise, and fishermen’s imitation of standards co-exist in fishery practice in the Barents Sea. Consequently, a hybrid form of state and private sustainability governance institutions and arrangements was formed, contributing to synchronization between the actors within the fishing and supply practice and their sustainability commitment. We further argue that compliance with standards can be enforced by reflexive awareness and learning.
The study provides an understanding that supply chain practices become sustainable when beneficial and value-creating for the actors involved. It is further shown that no one-size-fits-all tools can achieve sustainability in supply chain practices.
