English

Abstract

The ecosystem approach for fisheries management in fresh water is based on the application of appropriate methodologies and tools to promote sustainable production of goods and services with least possible environmental impact and the highest possible economic and social yield.  In this paper, we develop a unified methodology for fisheries management (UMFM) in fresh water in Morocco in order to better plan, organize, manage the sector in a manner that provides sustainable goods and services and contributes to human well-being and equity for all relevant stakeholders. The UMFM Framework describes the various activities required for the implementation of the ecosystem approach to fisheries, developed by integrating, as appropriate, 29 processes involved around six knowledge areas. Some lead to specific fisheries objectives, such as fisheries, marketing, and quality management. Others provide methods to achieve the objectives, such as those related to stakeholders, research and risk management. These processes are logically grouped into four iterative steps: Scoping and diagnostic process group, planning process group, implementing process group and monitoring and controlling process group. This framework, developed from the best practices, will increase the chances to ensure sustainable fisheries, and which best meet the needs of recreational and commercial fishers, or of fishers and non-consumptive users of the resource.   Keywords: Methodology, process, Moroccan reservoirs, fisheries management, ecosystem approach to fisheries.