Abstract
Growth in blue industries require heightened attention to justice in coastal governance. However, our understanding of different societal groups’ perceptions of justice in the context of the blue economy and coastal governance is limited. To address this gap, we developed a survey instrument to assess justice perceptions for local fisheries and subsequently used this instrument to elicit justice perceptions among coastal planners and three groups of fishers (Indigenous Sami, the Kven national minority and other non-Indigenous). Specifically, we examined perceptions about coastal zone use and decision-making with respect to three key dimensions of justice: distribution (how costs and benefits are distributed), procedure (how decisions are made), and recognition (whether sociocultural diversity is recognised and respected). Based on data from 705 fishers from the three groups and 41 planners across 69 coastal municipalities in Northern Norway, we found significant differences in perceptions of justice between planners and fishers, while the groups of fishers had relatively similar perceptions. Overall, planners tended to have more favorable justice evaluations than fishers. Moreover, planners report knowledge gaps pertaining to how changes in the use of the coastal zone have impacted local fisheries. Our quantitative analysis shows that fishers’ perceptions of injustice are widespread and extend well beyond what is often dismissed as anecdotal evidence – such as injustice claims by individual fishers. Our results highlight the importance of examining local actors’ perceptions of justice, particularly in the case of local fishers, who are facing increasing pressures with the rise of the blue economy.