Balancing the Scales: Spatial Dynamics and Conflicts between Dolphin Tourism and Small-Scale Fisheries on Notojima Island, Japan

Recent challenges in small-scale fisheries necessitate a critical reassessment of coastal zone governance. In this context, the marine tourism sector has emerged as a significant area of interest, prompting coastal fishing communities and other stakeholders to explore avenues for collaborative management. However, integrating these sectors often leads to conflicts, particularly between the fisheries and tourism sectors. This study examines the tension between coastal tourism and small-scale fisheries, with a focus on dolphin tourism conflicts on Notojima Island, north-central Japan. It highlights the ecological characteristics of wild dolphins that drive tourism development and contribute to emerging conflicts. Using stakeholder interviews, direct observations, and analysis of local newspaper content (2001–2019), this study chronicles the evolution of dolphin tourism through four distinct phases: discovery, development, disturbance, and reorganization. The findings reveal spatial and social conflicts between dolphin tourism and small-scale fisheries, exacerbated by mismatches in operational scales and the ecological behaviors of dolphins. Efforts have been made to mitigate these conflicts by realigning spatial, social, and institutional scales, while carefully considering the ecological characteristics of dolphins. Establishing adaptive institutions and organizations is central to resolving these conflicts and fostering cooperation between the tourism industry and small-scale fisheries. These entities should be capable of responding flexibly to the constantly changing conditions of target resources, facilitating a balanced approach to economic development and environmental management within the coastal zones.