good governance is widely seen as a prerequisite for effective natural resources management in the context of environment decline and increasing anthropogenic pressures.
few studies quantitatively examine governance principles, or explore links between perceptions of community members and the governance that shapes their behavior. comparative work, spanning multiple sites and contexts ,is rare.
this paper measures community members' perception of governance in twelve coral reef-dependent communities across four countries in the wider Caribbean region. in relation
to established principles of 'good governance'. multiple correspondence analysis indicates and engagement. these explain over 50% of variation in individual perception. these measurable themes provide an indication of the social fit of governance arrangemnets,and have implication for expected outcomes, including support for management and compliance with regulations;four of five good governance indicators were present in communities with positive perceptions. Results suggest a combination of supportive structures and processes are necessary to achieve governance systems positively perceived by community members. findings are relevant to those seeking to design management systems and governance structures that are appropriate to local circumstances and will engender stakeholder support.