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Topic 6 Community based fisheries management

Coastal Fisheries Policy and Planning Course, 28/01/08 – 8/02/08, Apia, Samoa. Topic 6 Community based fisheries management. Michael King. Secretariat of the Pacific Community. Community-based fisheries management.

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Topic 6 Community based fisheries management

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  1. Coastal Fisheries Policy and Planning Course, 28/01/08 – 8/02/08, Apia, Samoa Topic 6Community based fisheries management Michael King Secretariat of the Pacific Community

  2. Community-based fisheries management

  3. The co-management of fisheriesThere is a continuum of possibilities in fisheries co-management

  4. Who are the stakeholders in fisheries? besides the government, which should look after broad community interests. In commercial fisheries; fishers, boat builders, processors, public etc In subsistence fisheries; fishers, fish-sellers, community, community leadersNote: The general public has interests in the country’s resources (resource rents?)

  5. The community-based managementof subsistence fisheriesUsually means some degree of control of fisheries by fishing communities for several reasons either extreme is undesirable

  6. Why involve community stake-holders in fisheries management? a) Broadens expertise available for management b) Promotes ownership of management plans c) Promotes compliance with rules & regulations(and a reduction in enforcement costs)

  7. Community (stakeholder) involvement a) Broadens knowledge available for management Fishing communities generally know more (inc. traditional knowledge) about their fisheries than agency staff

  8. Community-based fisheries management … b) Promotes ownership of management plans Community commitment and pride (plans not regarded as government plans) Takes “pressure” off government(agency no longer has sole responsibility)

  9. Community-based fisheries management … c) Promotes compliance with rules & regulations Rules are those of the fishing community Rules respected (enforced) by community Reduction in government enforcement costs

  10. The community-based management of subsistence fisheries Even if management is by communities, What does this mean … management by chiefs?(as in Raui system in Cooks?)management by broader community?(eg by representative committee?)

  11. Before embarking on CBFM ►Is government willing to empower communities? - governments often reluctant to relinquish power- government agencies hold the “expertise” ►Are communities willing to act?– many communities rely heavily on assistance ►Do communities have control over their waters?- Open access fisheries? or - Customary Marine Tenure (CMT)? Customary “ownership” in some countries (eg Samoa) Open access fisheries in some countries (but note “special management areas” in Tonga)

  12. Requirements for a “new age” extension officerto promote CBFM ►good listener ►ability to make people feel comfortable ►enough technical knowledge to understand what people are talking about“old style” extension officers are too accustomed to telling people what they should be doing!

  13. Maximum community participation. ● involvement of as many groups as possible(women, untitled men, chiefs) ● an extended extension process in each village (many months required for ownership by the community) That which is acquired the quickest is lost the easiest

  14. A demand-based programme It is desirable to work in communities with ►awareness of problems ►concern for the future ►willingness to take conservation actions community-based management will not work unless the community has a strong desire to address its own problems.

  15. Alternative sources of seafood All imposed fisheries regulations (including banning destructive fishing methods) result in short-term decreases in catches. Therefore, need for alternative sources of seafood In the short term

  16. Group meetings – the key to full involvement problem/solution trees – a participatory tool

  17. CBFM - what it CANNOT do ►Secure short-term results(time is required for ownership) ►Replace national fisheries regulations(eg minimum size rules) ►Address extensive environmental problems. eg for siltation caused by poor land managementIntegrated Coastal zone Management (ICM) is necessary.

  18. Some environmental problems have to be addressed at the national level (eg by ICM) rather than at the local level (eg by CBFM).

  19. Regardless of national legislation and enforcement, the responsible management of fisheries resources will only be achieved when fishing communities themselves see it as their responsibility rather than that of the government.

  20. Exercise in using a problem solving technique and encouraging community participation. The problem/solution tree* Based on the belief that nobody knows problems better than those affected(in this case, the community)* also used in industry “brainstorming”

  21. Exercise: We all live in a community with no school.The nearest school is in a neighboring community 15 km awayThe key problem is “Village youths do not go to school”

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