Mainstreaming fisheries co-management in the Asia-Pacific
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There is a long tradition of fisheries management in the Asia-Pacific region. Traditional (or customary) fishery management systems evolved over centuries in response to increasing population pressures and the need to resolve disputes over access and exploitation of fishery resources. The control of access to what were initially “common property” resources was originally the responsibility of local communities and customary fishery organizations, but these systems broke down owing to modernizati on and their management was transferred to government. Unfortunately, government-managed models of management have also proved to be largely unsuccessful in managing open access fishery resources. Over the last 20 years it has become increasingly apparent that management initiatives will not be effective if the resource users (communities and fishers) are not fully involved in the management process. Focus has therefore now shifted from scientific/economic management models to those of co-m anagement that involve both governments and communities/resource users in sharing decision-making and planning, to varying degrees. This report provides a concise summary of the “fishery co-management” concept. It builds on the vast experience already gained in fishery co-management in the Asia-Pacific region and argues that it is timely to move fishery management more into mainstream, government-supported management processes (i.e. mainstream fisheries management).