Fisheries Co-management Research Articles

Fisheries Co-management and Conflict Management in Inland Openwater Fisheries in Bangladesh

Abstract Community based management of inland openwater fisheries in Bangladesh has introduced and practiced through the Community Based Fisheries Management (cbfm) approach with partnership arrangement of government and non-government organisations, fisher communities and other stakeholders. One of the principles behind the community based fisheries management is to improve fisheries conflict management and its resolution. The implementation of the cbfm approach has experienced a significant contribution towards fishers’ conflict management. cbfm arrangement introduced fisher led, community led and women led approaches. Community based organisations (cbo s) as local institutions have been established through community participation under cbfm approach to mitigate conflict and its reducing and resolution. This paper assesses the impact of cbfm approaches on fishers’ conflict management in inland openwater fisheries in Bangladesh. It identifies the nature and causes of conflicts and develops ways of communicating good practice and reducing conflicts through fisheries co-management arrangement. This study might have policy implication to scale up cbfm approaches to promote fishers’ conflict resolution and its affective management of inland open water fisheries with a long- term commitment.

Stakeholder perceptions and policy implications of voluntary and government-led individual quota systems in japanese fisheries co-management: A case study of purse seine fisheries in the sea of Japan

Co-management, a governance system in which governmental authorities and local communities share resource management responsibilities, is increasingly recognized worldwide for its potential to reconcile natural resource conservation with livelihood goals. This case study examines the perceptions of diverse stakeholders regarding the effects of introducing both voluntary and government-led Individual Quota (IQ) systems in Japanese fishery co-management, spanning governance, economics, sustainability, and social aspects. Employing an integrated mixed method approach, the study combines qualitative interviews and questionnaires with quantitative analysis of before-and-after catch data. After the introduction of the voluntary IQ system in 2017, 67 % of the stakeholders acknowledged improvements in overall performance. The favorable findings from various perspectives reflect not only the stakeholders' profound confidence in the system but also their satisfaction with the matured co-management process. However, qualitative results from the case also indicate that the government-led IQ system implemented since 2022 primarily imposes rigidity on the existing voluntary system, while failing to provide sufficient incentives for fishers to transition effectively. Effective incentives are essential, including increased transparency in resource management, greater flexibility in managing catch quotas, and facilitating consensus on the liberalization of fishing vessel sizes. Continuous evaluation is crucial, and the government-led IQ system should be adaptively improved.

A rapid approach to assessing the vulnerability of Mozambican fisheries’ species to climate change

Mozambique is amongst the most vulnerable of Western Indian Ocean (WIO] countries to the impacts of climate change on its marine fisheries. We used rapid assessment methods to evaluate sensitivity, exposure and vulnerability of fisheries species to climate change, appropriate for data-deficient, developing countries in the region. Species were selected based on their importance in industrial and artisanal fisheries’ landings, further prioritized by local experts. Species’ attributes likely to be sensitive to climate change were identified and scored, utilizing life history or biological characteristics. Sea Surface Temperature (SST] was the most prominent climate exposure factor and for which we could confidently predict likely future change. Most species had low or medium overall sensitivity to climate change, with only eight considered highly sensitive. Climate exposure (SST] scores were high off northern Mozambique, while the central and southern regions were generally of medium exposure. Ten species received a High vulnerability score, 14 were Medium, and 16 had a Low vulnerability score. The highly vulnerable species were all fishes, apart from one crustacean; 4 of the 9 were strongly estuarine-associated; the most vulnerable species was the parrotfish Scarus ghobban. This is the first attempt to use a rapid, semi-quantitative, specialist- and trait-based vulnerability assessment of the anticipated effect of climate change on marine fisheries species in the WIO. Challenges experienced were data paucity, limited resources, the large study area, and the complex oceanography of the region. However, a simple methodology was developed, derived from efforts elsewhere, and which can be used to undertake similar assessments for other WIO countries. Raised awareness of climate change among small-scale fishing communities is a necessity, combined with adaptation by promoting fisheries co-management. Also required is support from government to ensure that people can be flexible to change.

Global habitat predictions to inform spatiotemporal fisheries management: Initial steps within the framework

Tuna Regional Fishery Management Organizations (tRFMOs) are increasingly interested in spatiotemporal management as a tool to reduce interaction rates with vulnerable species. We use blue shark (Prionace glauca) as a case study to demonstrate the critical first steps in the implementation process, highlighting how predictions of global habitat for vulnerable life stages can be transformed into a publicly-accessible spatial bycatch mitigation tool. By providing examples of possible management goals and an associated threshold to identify essential habitats, we show how these key areas can represent a relatively low percentage of oceanic area on a monthly basis (16–24% between 50°S and 60°N), yet can have relatively high potential protection efficiency (∼ 42%) for vulnerable stages if fishing effort is redistributed elsewhere. While spatiotemporal management has demonstrable potential for blue sharks to effectively mitigate fishing mortality on sensitive life stages, we identify inherent challenges and sequential steps that require careful consideration by tRFMOs as work proceeds. We also discuss how our single-species framework could be easily extended to a multispecies approach by assigning relative conservation risk before layering habitat model predictions in an integrated analysis. Such broader application of our approach could address the goals of tRFMOs related to reducing the ecosystem effects of fishing and pave the way for efficient fisheries co-management using an ecosystem-based approach.

Opportunities and challenges for small-scale fisheries co-management: A case study of the unofficial landing records system in a Brazilian fishing community

The scarcity of information on small-scale fisheries (SSF) prevents the dimensioning of production and the assessment of fish stocks and, consequently, impairs the feasibility of adequate management decisions. This study aimed to analyze the challenges and opportunities of landing records in SSF based on a case study in a fishing community in northeastern Brazil. In addition, the temporal trends of the main exploited fish species were analyzed using the local ecological knowledge of artisanal fishers. Due to the wide data gap, this analysis included the records provided by the fisher Colony Z-19 only from 2017 and 2018 and a comparison from October to January for 2006–2007, 2012–2013, and 2017–2018. The free listing technique was applied to 30 local fishers. The total catch recorded in 2017 was 50.7 tons, and 43.79 tons in 2018, while the average catch per unit effort was 12.32 ± 6.18 and 10.33 ± 5.66 kg/fisher.day, respectively in each year. Landing records encompassed eight multi-specific categories, which strongly restricts the potential use of this information for fisheries management. Despite the relevance of the Colony’s intention to monitor the landings without external support, this is strictly aimed at the commercial control of fishing production. This scenario presents an opportunity, with the cooperation of other stakeholders, to develop standardized methods of fishery statistics that shed light on the conditions surrounding stocks that are fished in SSF. Some recommendations are provided for a national well-established fishing landing monitoring.

Legal pluralism, ideology, and institutional change: the evolution of institutions for coastal resource governance in Ghana

Abstract Co-management regimes are institutional innovations that hold the promise of achieving sustainable common-pool resource governance. However, the transition to such institutional regimes in coastal resource systems has faced challenges in many countries. This article examines the processes and outcomes of such institutional changes in coastal fisheries in Ghana, where the transition to co-management was unsuccessful. Combining theoretical perspectives from legal pluralism in legal anthropology and ideational theories of institutional change within institutional economics, the paper uses process tracing to examine the role of ideology and historical institutional dynamics of the resource context in the institutionalization and failure of co-management arrangements for governing coastal fisheries. The study finds that ideological conflicts and historical legacies of legal pluralism hindered the practice and outcomes of coastal fisheries co-management in Ghana. The article argues for particular attention to the historical institutional dimensions and underlying worldviews of the resource context in institutional interventions for sustainability in coastal resource systems.

Monitoring and management of abandoned, lost and discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) in Penghu Islands, Taiwan

This study investigated the conditions of abandoned, lost, discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) in natural and artificial reef zones and removed it afterward in Penghu Islands. Various feasible suggestions for improving ALDFG management were proposed for the county government to manage and reduce the generation of ALDFG in the future and maintain the marine ecosystem. This study divided the ocean areas of Penghu into five sub-areas for carrying out research and surveys. 165 boat trips of ALDFG investigation and removal were conducted from July 2018 to October 2019. The results show the ALDFG in natural reef areas is mostly large-mesh gillnets (26 %). The rest are single-layer bottom gillnets (21 %) and multi-layer bottom gillnets (20 %). In line with the recent efforts of the Penghu County Government to address ALDFG, it is recommended that the participation of citizen scientists and the promotion of ocean education can be utilized for fishery co-management in Penghu.

Documenting fisheries co-management in action: Case of the Grand Cape Mount County Co-Management Association, Liberia

In a world of increasing uncertainties associated with the overexploitation of natural resources, collaborative (or co-) management regimes have been touted as a promising mechanism to build resilience and provide positive and equitable outcomes to the communities that rely on these social-ecological systems. Assessments of co-management associations (CMAs), particularly in fisheries in West Africa, is still nascent and show mixed results. Here, using archival research and stakeholder interviews, we document the experience of the Grand Cape Mount County Co-Management Association, the first of its kind in Liberia. The CMA has gained a number of achievements including: consolidation and reconciliation between resource user groups; addressing illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing; establishing rescue missions; and conflict resolution. However, ongoing challenges regarding lack of political will from central government, financing, decision-making practices, and leadership structures persist. Based on the lessons learned from these experiences, we offer several recommendations for the expansion of CMAs in Liberia, and in similar contexts elsewhere.

Development of marine small-scale fisheries in Togo: An examination of the efficiency of fishermen at the new fishing port of Lomé and the necessity of fisheries co-management

Small-scale fisheries play a crucial role in providing fish protein for both consumers and coastal communities in Togo. However, the fishermen's revenue is relatively low compared to their expectations. Assessing changes in the technical efficiency is crucial for decision-making, particularly in light of the depletion of natural resources and the need for structural improvements. This study examines the technical efficiency of small-scale fishermen at the new fishing port in Lomé. The primary data were collected through a cross-sectional survey of 82 randomly selected fishermen. The data were analyzed using descriptive method. Subsequently, a Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA) was employed to identify the factors contributing to the inefficiency of these small-scale fishermen. The results indicate that only two variables, namely the fishing hours per month and boat ownership (being a skipper), have a statistically significant positive impact on the fishermen's monthly income. The inefficiency model derived from the SFA regression showed that fishery subsidies and cooperative membership positively influence technical efficiency, whereas the duration of fishing trip (number of days at sea and number of trips per month) and boat length negatively influence efficiency. Overall, the results suggest that the government should review fishery subsidy policies to enhance fishermen's technical efficiency while ensuring the sustainability of fisheries. Additionally, we identify another key area for potential policy interventions, which includes promoting and supporting cooperative membership among the fishermen. This could provide social support, an organizational structure for communication, co-management, and collective decision-making.

The change of zooplankton communities in three areas for co-management of coastal fisheries in Can Gio, Ho Chi Minh City

Zooplankton plays a role as a living food source in the food web of water bodies, determining the growth and development of many aquatic species, especially at the larval stage. The study has recorded 52 species of 29 genera, 21 families, 6 classes, 4 phylum and 7 types of larvae in 28 sampling sites of 3 areas for co-management of coastal fisheries. The density of plankton individuals ranged from 49300 individuals/m3 to 272812 individuals/ m3. The number of species and density of plankton individuals in Thanh An area is higher than in the other areas (Long Hoa and Can Thanh). The similarity of the zooplankton communities showed that at 40% of the sampling sites, they were divided into 2 groups as follows: group 1 of water bodies in the co-management model area in Long Hoa and Can Thanh, group 2 included the water bodies of Thanh An area. The Copepoda class is the highest proportion in the sampling sites, showing that it will be an abundant food source for the growth and development of aquatic species that are cultured or live naturally in this ecosystem. It is also an important biological factor that needs to be managed and conserved to create a natural habitat for the sustainability of fish stocks in the area.

Disparities in the impacts of co-management on fishers’ livelihoods

AbstractNatural resources are widely managed through collaborative governance arrangements (e.g., co-management) which often result in the uneven distribution of costs and benefits among fishers. Discrepancies in how a fisher is impacted by co-management relative to other fishers or others in the community (i.e., disparity) can negatively affect fishers’ wellbeing, their support for management, and subsequently, ecological outcomes. Yet, disparities in the distribution of social impacts from co-management have rarely been assessed. We address this gap by examining disparities (losses and gains) in perceived livelihood impacts from co-management. Losses (or gains) occur when a fisher experiences a more negative (or positive) impact on their livelihood relative to other fishers or others in the community. We used data from interviews with 1191 fishers associated with 48 coral reef co-management arrangements across Kenya, Tanzania, Madagascar, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea to examine how socioeconomic and institutional characteristics were associated with losses and gains from co-management. Overall, we found that more fishers perceived equality than disparities in the distribution of co-management impacts. Of those that perceived disparities, more fishers perceived losses than gains. We also found that disparities could be predicted by a range of socioeconomic characteristics, including distance to markets and wealth, and institutional characteristics of the co-management regime, such as gear, access, and area restrictions. This study provides insights on potential entry points that could be used by managers and policy-makers to promote equitable co-management of small-scale fisheries, such as the reduction of losses by increasing participation in decision-making processes, fostering conflict resolution mechanisms, prioritizing gear restrictions over area restrictions, and reducing poverty.

Regional dynamic co-management for sustainable fisheries and ecosystem conservation: a pilot analysis in the Catalan Sea

The complexity of coastal fisheries, which often involve many gears with cross-impacts on various species and life stages, requires a management system that is able to integrate these multiple interactions in order to gradually achieve sustainability. In this paper, we argue that regional co-management can appropriately address the complex interactions between fisheries, including those with other potentially conflicting human activities. Our results, notably obtained through a questionnaire to local fishers’ representatives mainly on bottom trawl fisheries in the Catalan Sea region, show, however, that improved mutual understanding through effective communication and long-term collaboration between stakeholders, and in particular between fishers and scientists, is essential to ensure the successful implementation of fisheries co-management. In addition to balancing the voices of the many stakeholders, co-management needs to be further improved by developing multi-species, multi-gear and multi-use approaches to the oceans. This improvement could in turn support the effectiveness of co-decisions, as they would be based on the recognised administrative structure of co-management committees and sound scientific guidance that addresses both ecosystem protection and sustainable fisheries profitability. Dynamic management over time and space, using real-time essential fish habitat from operational oceanography, can help to make the co-management process more robust by improving collaboration between stakeholders and the effectiveness of measures in a changing environment. The decision-making, social and ecological components are described as integral and dependent parts of the co-management system, with priority given to mutual understanding between stakeholders. This integrated co-management framework is flexible enough to take into account regional complexity, but also national legislation and the EU Common Fisheries Policy, which all promote sustainable use of the oceans and protection of the ecosystem.

Recommendations for Effective Co-Management Model of Small-Scale Grouper (Serranidae) Fishery in South Sulawesi Province

Governance (policy) that regulates fisheries resources needs to involve industry in the supply chain (market) and small-scale grouper fishermen (community) within a co-management framework so that management is more effective while simultaneously supporting the Fisheries Improvement Project (FIP) which is driven by various parties globally (Conservation Alliance, 2021). This study aims to recommend a small-scale grouper fishery co-management model to be carried out in South Sulawesi Province. This study diagnoses the readiness (enabling condition) and willingness (motivation) of stakeholders so that they can be applied and implemented consistently (implementation). The results of this study indicate that the main approaches and strategies for the co-management model of small-scale grouper fisheries include (a) Optimizing the role of the market that promotes traceability and improving governance through a supply chain approach, (b) Synergy and synchronization of the role of government at all levels through an approach technocratic, (c) Strengthening fishermen and local institutions through a participatory approach, (d) Gathering multi-stakeholder support and collaboration through a collaborative approach. The recommended roadmap for small-scale grouper co-management in South Sulawesi Province includes three main stages, namely: (a) Initiation Stage: Commitment, Support, and Organizing, (b) Acceleration Stage: Joint Committee and Co-management Prototype, and (c) Stage Institutionalization: Scaling up and Organizing Fishermen's Forums.

Adaptive capacity and local-level fisheries co-management activities: A case of South Korea

Building upon the literature on the importance of adaptive capacity and co-management, this study investigates adaptive capacity as a type of community characteristic which can shape a community’s co-management activities, and how communities’ perception of adaptive capacity changes after engaging in co-management activities. While studies have examined the diverse factors that influence adaptive capacity, this study seeks to provide empirical evidence for the relationship between adaptive capacity and co-management activities in the context of South Korea. Using survey data from each fishery community leader or manager in South Korea, this study conducts multivariate regression analyses to investigate the relationship between fishing communities’ adaptive capacity and their co-management activities. This study conducts the paired samples one-tail t-test to examine changes in the communities’ perception of their adaptive capacity. Results suggest that adaptive capacity of each community relates to co-management activities and communities’ perception of adaptive capacity changed after performing co-management activities.

The Future of Fisheries Co-Management in the Context of the Sustainable Blue Economy and the Green Deal: There Is No Green without Blue

Appropriate governance structures are extremely important for fishery-dependent communities in developing integrated territorial development strategies and an adaptive capacity for change, including a climate one. This paper assesses to what extent fishery co-management schemes (e.g., fishery LAGs, being regional/local governance instruments in fishing communities) are strengthening sustainability. The latter includes improving energy efficiency, promoting renewable energy sources (RES), coping with the climate crisis, minimizing environmental impacts, and promoting a sustainable blue economy. For detecting the policy aspects of aligning climate neutrality and a sustainable blue economy, the research lens focuses on the Greek Fisheries Local Action Groups (FLAGs), given that these are mostly located in coastal/marine and insular territories with significant blue growth potential. To map and assess their capacity and efficiency in pursuing Green Deal objectives, a co-development process with FLAG managers was put in place. The results and findings of this process reveal the scarcity of sustainability and blue-economy-related strategies. The key conclusion is that a transition to a post-carbon blue economy on a local level requires an understanding of the evolutionary dynamics of fishery co-management schemes. The latter, being multi-sectoral structures, may boost dialogue and cooperation to harmonize local development strategies and EU policies. Maritime spatial planning (MSP), as an evolutionary governance process itself, can be a driver for making FLAGs evolve and strengthen commonization, blue justice, and equity for fishers.

Blue Food Sovereignty Benefits Social-Ecological Resilience: A Case Study of Small-Scale Fisheries Co-Management and Mariculture in Samoa

“Blue” (aquatic) food systems have a vital role in providing nutrition, livelihoods, and food security for coastal communities, but addressing and evaluating issues of equity and social resilience continue to challenge small-scale fisheries management. We examine how marine aquaculture and co-management approaches that integrate traditional institutions can support food sovereignty for more equitable blue food systems. Interviews with stakeholders in 11 fishing communities in Samoa indicate that several benefits associated with food sovereignty are derived from co-managed village fish reserves. Reserves support biodiversity health and are a source of culturally valued seafoods that build food security, social capital, and sustainable livelihood opportunities for women. Local values, food systems, providers, and consumers are centered, though traditional hierarchies present challenges for equitable decision-making. Our findings demonstrate how incorporating food sovereignty into the operation and evaluation of fisheries co-management can aid in addressing equity and resilience.

Strengthening small-scale fisheries management and conservation in Myanmar through locally managed marine areas

AbstractThe NGO Fauna & Flora started working in the Myeik Archipelago, southern Myanmar in 2013, and in 2017 three locally managed marine areas were established to aid sustainable fisheries management and support biodiversity conservation. These sites are the first protected areas specifically established for co-management of marine fisheries in Myanmar, in which long-term management rights have been formally granted to local fishing communities. The establishment of a further four locally managed marine areas is now in progress, with ambitions for a network to be established throughout the archipelago. To track changes in these habitats over time, assess effectiveness and inform adaptive fisheries management, annual coral reef monitoring will be conducted at these community-managed sites. We provide an overview of the locally managed marine areas recently established in Myanmar and of proposed new sites, and detail the establishment of the first permanent coral reef monitoring transects. In sharing the initial evidence gathered on the impact of new, local management measures, we aim to highlight the importance and benefit of developing marine resource management systems to strengthen fisheries management while simultaneously establishing a monitoring framework to fill a national and global coral reef data gap.

Perceptions towards governance of billfish resource use: The lens of artisanal fishers in Kenya

Multiple fisher groups target billfish species, each with different motivations and experiences, which can influence the effectiveness and sustainability of governance approaches. However, limited studies underscore the perceptions of billfish resource users in defining and implementing governance in the Western Indian Ocean region. We conducted 211 semi-structured qualitative interviews between December 2020 and September 2021, to explore how artisanal fishers perceive the performance and sustainability of governance approaches in Kenya, with a focus on billfish. Our findings show that artisanal fishers have adequate knowledge of fishing laws and regulations, as well as governing institutions and their performance. Further, artisanal fishers had a positive attitude and support for fishing rules, managing institutions, and effectiveness of governance intervention. Specifically, the fishers rated Beach Management Units (BMUs) as highly effective in implementing fisheries rules, indicating the involvement of fishers in co-management of fisheries and tendency for governance success and sustainability. This highlights the need to strengthen and support BMUs as an effective governance tool in the co-management of fisheries. We draw attention to our first-time study of the contribution of artisanal billfish fishers to governance of shared fisheries resources. We show that involvement of resource users promotes a bottom-up approach to the co-management of billfish which compliments the current regional and national efforts that have largely focused on commercial fisheries. Our research adds to the scientific body of knowledge on the importance of perceptions in the formation of natural resource governance interventions at varying scales, especially for transboundary species in data-poor areas.

Co-management of large-scale and medium-scale fisheries: An assessment of the fishery tax system in Indonesia

Many fish stocks are jointly exploited by industrial vessels that employ modern fishing technologies and small- to medium-scale vessels that rely on simple gears. For the effective management of these shared stocks, it is imperative to understand how different policy options influence the behavior of fishing vessels of different sizes. A fishery tax could be a viable option where other popular market-based instruments, such as individual transferable quotas, cannot be adopted. In this study, we developed a model that incorporates the interaction between large- and medium-scale fishing vessels to evaluate the impact of alternative tax schemes. The model is parameterized using the skipjack (Katsuwonus pelamis) purse-seine fishery in Indonesia, which has over 20 years of experience in fishery taxes. The results show that the current tax system has a limited impact on reducing fishing pressure, as tax payments are determined by the pre-production characteristics of fishing entities. Moreover, vessels below 30 GT are exempt from taxes, giving incentive for fishers to invest in vessels below or far above 30 GT. When taxes are imposed on only one vessel group, the harvest reduction by this vessel group could be offset by an increase in the harvest by untaxed vessels. Imposing a production-based tax on both large and medium vessels results in a more balanced outcome in terms of the distribution of fishery benefits and vessel capacity across regions. We discuss the social and institutional implications of implementing a production-based taxation system to promote efficient and equitable resource use in Indonesian fisheries.

Fisheries Co-Management in the “Age of the Commons”: Social Capital, Conflict, and Social Challenges in the Aegean Sea

Fishing activity in Greece remains important for the management of marine resources. Fishery co-management, involving various social groups and stakeholders, is considered necessary for marine ecological conservation. Environmental NGOs have acquired valuable expert and scientific knowledge on marine ecosystems which is essential for natural resource management. However, such knowledge is often in conflict with the interests of fishers, who often have tacit/lay knowledge which is rarely considered. The aim of this paper is twofold: first, to critically discuss the perceptions of different stakeholders regarding the protection of marine commons, and second, to unveil the potential conflicts in the management of the MPA on Gyaros Island. Gyaros is a cultural heritage monument, home to a colony of Mediterranean monk seals, and a traditional fishing area for adjacent island communities. Methodologically, the paper synthesises the empirical findings of a five-year (2013–2018) research project. Survey material collected over two separate periods (2014 and 2017) from the local population and professional and recreational fishers is combined with rich qualitative material from various stakeholders and participatory research to inform the research objectives. The successful management of MPAs requires that all users contribute to, agree to, and respect the terms of the MPA.