Community-based Fisheries Management Research Articles

Assessment of Fisheries Diversity in Mathabhanga River in the Southwestern Part of Bangladesh

Mathabhanga is an important and well-known river in the southwestern part of Bangladesh due to its role in fish production and as a vital income source for numerous fishermen. The study was carried out from August 2022 to July 2023 to reveal the existing aquatic resources and their composition, along with diversity, richness, and evenness indices. A comprehensive list of 57 distinct fish species has been documented, spanning across 8 orders, 22 families, and 42 genera. Within these, the Cypriniformes order exhibited the highest diversity in terms of both species count and observed individuals. Among the fish species inhabiting the Mathabhanga river, approximately 29.83% are considered threatened in Bangladesh, comprising 14.04% categorized as vulnerable (VU), 14.04% as endangered (EN), and 1.75% as critically endangered (CR). Overall values of the diversity index ranged from 2.45 to 3.15, richness was 3.81 to 6.17, and evenness index was 0.72 to 0.84. The investigation revealed that fish biodiversity in the Mathabhanga River has been steadily decreasing. This study suggested that fisheries should be managed through community-based fisheries management, establishing fish sanctuary, water pollution control, maintenance of fishing gear, and the implementation of the Fish Act for the sustainable management of fish biodiversity in the Mathabhanga River. Res. Agric. Livest. Fish. Vol. 11, No. 1, April 2024: 93-103

The importance of nutrition-sensitive fisheries management: Women's dietary diversity in Marovo Lagoon, Solomon Islands

Feeding a growing global population is one of the most significant challenges currently facing society. Global malnutrition rates remain high, and tackling this problem in the context of global population growth and ecosystem declines will require con­certed effort across many sectors. Fish has been suggested as key to addressing high rates of malnu­trition in the South Pacific region, given that it is a rich source of highly bioavailable micronutrients and is common in traditional diets. Unfortunately, there are predictions that fish catch in this region may decline by more than 20% in the coming decades, threatening food and nutritional security. Women are key to breaking the cycle of malnutri­tion and play important roles in small-scale coastal fisheries in the South Pacific. This study assessed women’s dietary diversity and the importance of fresh fish to women’s diets in a rural coastal com­munity in Marovo Lagoon, Solomon Islands, over four sampling periods. We found that women’s dietary diversity in the community was low (mean MDD-W = 3.03 ± 0.06) and that fresh fish was consumed by more than 70% of the women sur­veyed in three of the four sampling periods. Our results showed some seasonal differences in dietary diversity, highlighting the importance of sampling across seasons to better capture true nutrition. We consider these results in the context of community-based fisheries management and argue for the need to improve fisheries management by including con­sideration of women’s fishing and promoting the importance of fish to human health.

Fish biodiversity and their conservation measures in the Mathabhanga river, Chuadanga, Bangladesh

The study was concerned to determine the present status of the fish biodiversity in the Mathabhanga river, Chuadanga and its conversation measures based on the questionnaire interview with 40 fishers, focus group discussion with river bank community members and cross check interview with key informants. A field study was conducted for a period of four months from December, 2021 to March, 2022 to assess the fish biodiversity in the Mathabhanga river, investigate the existing fishing practices and also to identify proper management strategies for the conservation of fish biodiversity in the river. The results revealed that three categories of fishers were engaged in the Mathabhanga river namely, professional fishers (45.0%), seasonal fishers (37.5%) and subsistence fishers (17.5%). Shannon-Weaver diversity (H) and Margalef’s richness (D) values revealed that diversity and richness of fish species were the highest in March (H = 2.99, D = 4.45), followed by February (H = 2.96, D = 3.69) and January (H = 2.63, D = 3.15), while the lowest values were obtained in December (H = 2.60, D = 2.80). The Pielou’s evenness (e) values were found to be slightly varied with the variations of total number of species, being the highest in December (e = 0.94) and the lowest in January (e = 0.91). Different types of fishing gears like seine net, gill net, cast net, hook and line, and traps were found to be operated to catch fish by the fishers during this survey. A total of 26 fish species were identified in the catches of the Mathabhanga river. According to the survey, indiscriminate and overexploitation were found to be responsible for almost 40% loss, and pollution and siltation caused about 25% loss of ecosystem. Around 20% and 15% loss of ecosystem were caused by habitat destruction and changes of river course, respectively. As a result, the water quality was deteriorating day by day, and the availability of fish species and other aquatic biodiversity were decreasing gradually. During the survey, almost 16 fish species was found at a risk to be endangered. The specific conservation measures including community based fisheries management, establishment of sanctuary, control of pollution, maintenance of fishing gears and the implementation of fisheries act should need to be made for the sustainable utilization and conversation of fish biodiversity in the Mathabhanga river.

The Role of Socioeconomic Factors, Psychological Motivations, and Social Networks in Women’s Participation in Community-Based Fishery Management in Ghana

Women’s participation in community-based decision-making in managing natural resources such as fishery is considered crucial to the sustainability of the fishery industry. However, women experience the brunt of inequality in fishery tasks and decision-making despite their crucial contributions. Using survey data (N = 400) from an ethnographic study on Ghanaian female fisherfolk, we examine the factors affecting women’s participation in community-based fishery decision-making. Findings show that while women attended community meetings, only a few held positions in the fishery associations. Whilst education was not a significant factor in women’s community participation, the age of children, women’s ownership of fishery assets as well as psychological characteristics such as trust, interests and gender role attitudes were very crucial. Results further show that network variables such as women’s position in other associations were more important to their participation in community-based fishery decision-making than mere membership in such associations. This study highlights the need for fishery policies aimed at gender equality to move beyond gender structures and economic models toward examining the complexity of factors affecting different aspects of women’s participation in fishery decision-making.

Opportunities to Strengthen Fish Supply Chain Policy to Improve External Food Environments for Nutrition in the Solomon Islands

Malnutrition and food insecurity have significant social and economic impacts in small island developing states, such as the Solomon Islands. Enhancing the domestic supply of fish, the main source of local protein, can contribute to improved nutrition and food security. This research aimed to improve understanding of the policy interface between the fisheries and health sectors and identify opportunities to strengthen fish supply chain policy to improve domestic (particularly urban) access to fish in the Solomon Islands. The study design drew on theories of policy learning and policy change and analysed policies using a consumption-oriented supply chain approach. Interviews were conducted with 12 key informants in the Solomon Islands, and 15 policy documents were analysed. Analysis of policy documents and interview data indicated that there were strengths as well as opportunities in the existing policy context. In particular, community-based fisheries management approaches and explicit recognition of the links between fisheries and nutrition were key strengths. Challenges included gaps in implementation, variations in capacities across government actors and communities, and limited attention to domestic monitoring and enforcement. Improving the effectiveness of resource management efforts may result in sustainable outcomes for both livelihoods and health, which will accomplish priorities at the national and sub-national levels and support the achievement of the Solomon Islands' commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals.

Resilience of a giant clam subsistence fishery in Kiribati to climate change

Changes in sea surface temperature have historically impacted the coral reef habitats of giant clams in Kiribati. However, across many islands of Kiribati, the four species of giant clam have largely withstood these environmental changes. We adopted and applied a comprehensive resilience framework to assess attributes conferring and limiting resilience in the Kiribati giant clam data-limited fishery and used knowledge co-production and the precautionary principle approach to better understand resilience. We found that the resilience of the fishery to climate and anthropogenic impacts, as highlighted by local stake- and rightholders, will depend on the ability of fishery actors to act collectively to implement adaptive governance. We used a gradient of human pressure to identify approaches and pathways for improving and operationalising climate resilience. Climate change, coupled with human impacts, have reduced ecological resilience in the urbanised island of South Tarawa. In South Tarawa, governance and social processes are less flexible, leading to declines in the local subsistence clam fishery. Conversely, on several remote outer islands, where the social-ecological system has shown promise in combating these anthropogenic influences, the ecological resilience has improved through adaptive community-based fisheries management, and the subsistence clam fishery has persisted. Our case study demonstrates the importance of a participatory approach and local knowledge when assessing climate resilience and identifies a pathway of resilience in a data-limited small-scale fishery. I-KIRIBATI ABSTRACT Ni boong ma taai aika a bwakanako ao bibitakin kabuebuen taari ea bon tia n roota maiun te were nte aro are ea karika te ane ba ena mainaina. E ngae n anne ao utun te were aika a aua (4) aika a kuneaki i Kiribati, a tia n aitara ma kangangan korakoran bibitakin te enwaromenta. Rinanon aia konabwai ni waaki ma bitaki ao a tia naba ni kona ni kaaitarai aia mwakuri ni kabarekareka ao ni karawawata te bota n aomata. Bibitakin kanoan boong, n raonaki ma rikiraken te bota n aomata, ea tia ni kataia ni kauarerekea te konabai ni kaitarai kanganga iaon Tarawa Teinainano ni kabotauaki ma aban Kiribati ake tabeua are e a raroa riki. E korakora te kerikaki ni mwaitin te were iaon Tawara Teinainano ngkai e korakora anaakina ba te amwarake ao ni marau ke ni karako te baronga n aron anaakina. N aban Kiribati ake tabeua ao ea tia ni kakoauaaki ba te baaronga ma te katei n aroaro rinanon kaawan abamakoro ea tia ni kaoka rikiraken ao teimatoan te were bwa te amwarake, e ngae ngke e korakora ana urubwai bibitakin kanoan bong. N taraakin aron bibitakin kanoan boong i Kiribati ma akawan te were, ao e kuneaki ba aron te were ni kona ni kaitara kabuebuen taari ma rikiraken kakangin taari ena boboto man oioi irouia naake a kabongana ke n akawa te were. Te kamatebai aei e riki ba te katoto n aron taneiei ni kaaitarai bitakin kanoan bong n irekereke ma akawa aika a uarereke.

Fisheries Resource Management of Lake Tempe Based on Co-Management in Wajo Regency, Southern Sulawesi

One of the most important sectors in Wajo Regency, South Sulawesi is the fisheries sector. This sector contributes to regional income, food security, and job creation. Lake Tempe has several problems such as conflicts between fishermen, unrestricted access to new technology, inadequate management of fisheries resources, uncontrolled fishing, and traditional community-based fisheries management. Co-management is carried out to organize activities in fisheries management. For this reason, it is necessary to strengthen institutions in managing the use of fishery resources and developing networks between fishing communities. This research was conducted using a structured questionnaire to identify and integrate the co-management model in Lake Tempe. There are relevant findings regarding this research, some of which are: (1) Goals, (2) Targets, and (3) Strategies, namely infrastructure strategy, banking services, coordination between authorities, organizational structure, cooperation, formation of cooperatives, training programs, and utilizing local wisdom. Natural resource management is a form of adaptive management, co-management, and change governance. Stakeholder involvement in improving conservation management and taking socio-economic aspects of the characteristics of the Tempe Lake area is an important element in efforts to design and implement co-management in fisheries resource management.

Linking small-scale fisheries co-management to U.N. Sustainable Development Goals.

Small-scale fisheries account for 90% of global fishers and 40% of the global catch. Effectively managing small-scale fisheries is, therefore, crucial to progressing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Co-management and community-based fisheries management are widely considered the most appropriate forms of governance for many small-scale fisheries. We outlined relationships between small-scale fisheries co-management and attainment of the SDGs, including evidence for impacts and gaps in dominant logic. We identified 11 targets across five SDGs to which small-scale fisheries co-management (including community-based fisheries management) can contribute; the theory of change by which these contributions could be achieved; and the strength of evidence for progress toward SDG targets related to various co-management strategies. Our theory of change links the 11 SDG targets by qualifying that progress toward some targets is contingent on others being achieved first. We then reviewed 58 case studies of co-management impacts from the Pacific Islands--a region rich in local marine governance--to evaluate evidence of where, to what degree, and with how much certainty different co-management strategies conferred positive impacts to each SDG target. These strategies included access restrictions, permanent area closures, periodic closures, and gear and species restrictions. Although many studies provide evidence linking multiple co-management strategies to improvements in resource status (SDG 14.4), there was limited evidence of follow-on effects, such as improvements in catch (SDG 2.3, 2.4), livelihoods (SDG 1.2), consumption (SDG 2.1), and nutrition (SDG 2.2). Our findings suggest that leaps of logic and assumptions are prevalent in co-management planning and evaluation. Hence, when evaluating co-management impacts against the SDGs, consideration of ultimate goals is required, otherwise, there is a risk of shortfalls between aspirations and impact.

Tracing innovation pathways behind fisheries co-management in Vanuatu

Co-management approaches have become a core part of coastal fisheries policy and planning practice in Vanuatu. With a long history of supporting community based fisheries management (CBFM), we trace its evolution in Vanuatu to understand how new structures and processes become adopted at scale. A theory of scaling for CBFM guides the analysis of regime shifts over time. We discuss planning for sustained spread under a national programme by categorising multiple drivers of change through three intervention pathways focussed, respectively, on developing (i) an enabling environment, (ii) institutional and individual capacity, and (iii) focussed innovative action in smaller targeted constituencies. Whilst we argue that local fisheries co-management institutions balance competing interests, and so differ amongst places, we also recognise the importance of connectivity and continuity. The realisation of a national programme therefore requires patchworks of siloed projects to be knitted together into coordinated programmatic approaches that strategically integrate activities.

Household finances and trust are key determinants of benefits from small-scale fisheries co-management

Socioeconomic conditions of small-scale fishing households often influence the benefits communities accrue from fisheries management interventions. Adjacent to seven newly established fisheries comanagement areas initiated in 2018, we examine the attributes of fishing households that influence perceived food, finance and job security, and compliance with fishing closures. We interviewed respondents from 1828 fishing households in 2019 and 2025 households in 2021 across the seven areas in Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia. A key finding was that perceived food, financial and job security outcomes increased over the two-year period and were positively related to respondents knowledge of fisheries comanagement. Relationships between both household savings and loans and with household food security highlights the need for policy and institutional support for fishing households in times of need. Household income from fisheries and trust in community leaders was also related to higher reported compliance with fishing closures, suggesting that income security and community leadership are important drivers of adoption of comanagement resource harvest rules. In contrast, women who identified as fish processors reported that they did not comply with fishing closures, as likely they were not involved in management decision making. Moreover, the positive impact of respondent’s trust in their community, on food, financial and job security, implies that strong community relationships can benefit well-being of coastal communities. Our findings highlight the need for programs that strengthen community institutions, improve household financial literacy, promote access to financial services and recognize gendered roles in fishing, as integral parts of community-based fisheries management.

Testing a model to assess women’s inclusion and participation in community-based resource management in Solomon Islands

Community-based fisheries management (CBFM) is a standard management framework in Melanesia. Yet, there is increasing evidence that women, among other marginalised groups, experience barriers to inclusion in decision-making processes. Through a case study in three communities in Marovo Lagoon, Solomon Islands, we adapted Agarwal’s 2001 participation typology for a Melanesian CBFM context to present a participation model for assessing gender inclusivity in CBFM. We defined six levels of women’s participation, including, (1) no participation, (2) nominal, (3) passive, (4) consultive, (5) active, and (6) interactive (empowering) participation, defined as actively participating in all aspects of the decision-making process, and holding leadership roles that increase women’s influence and power across the community. The model should be broadly useful throughout Melanesia across many different cultural contexts, though we anticipate that aspects will need adaptation in different contexts, both within and beyond Solomon Islands. We found that the three study communities respectively fell within the passive, consultive, and active levels. Our results show that gender parity, that is equal representation of women and men, is not a reliable indicator of gender equity. The utility of the model lies in its implementation, which requires engagement with gender power structures. This work contributes to the gender, small-scale fisheries, and community-based management literature by assessing women’s participation in CBFM decision-making processes through use of a participation model, and providing recommendations to fisheries practitioners on implementation of the model to assess gender equity in a community’s CBFM structures.

Local Ecological Knowledge in Community-Based Management as Smart Management Options for Coastal Fisheries: A Review of the Sri Lanka Context

Even though small-scale fisheries throughout the globe are based on local ecological knowledge (LEK), it is often not involved in the decision-making process. An attempt is made to review the potential of using LEK of traditional coastal fisher communities in Sri Lanka and self-governing institutions in managing fisheries commons sustainably. Fisheries management in Sri Lanka is mainly a top-down system through the state legislation, while many fishing communities still maintain some level of informal or traditional management systems. The traditional community-based fisheries management (CBFM) systems in coastal fisheries of Sri Lanka, which are essentially based on LEK of fisher communities, hold long history from several decades to centuries. In active fisheries, i.e ., beach seining and stilt fishing, traditional fishers accurately use LEK for day-to-day fishing activities for predicting harvests before operating the fishing gear. Long-term viability of beach seining, stilt fishing, brush park fishing, kraal fishing and stake net fishing systems in coastal fisheries of Sri Lanka confirms that CBFM systems in coastal fisheries provide better economic and livelihood standards for fisher communities. Empirical studies confirm that the coastal fisher communities manage fisheries commons through self-governing institutions through which the property rights are vested to fisher communities averting the common pool dilemma. This synthesis confirms that fishers’ LEK is an integral part of CBFM systems of coastal fisheries, which strengthen the collective action of the fishers, and is invaluable for sustaining the CBFM systems for the long run. It is clear that CBFM systems governed through robust customary institutions and evoked by traditional authority and LEK of fishers are vital for the sustainability of the coastal fisheries. In conclusion, CBFM systems and LEK can be hailed as smart management options, which can be an alternative to centralized fisheries management in Sri Lanka.

Diversity of fishery resources and catch efficiency of fishing gears in Gorai River, Bangladesh

Gorai River is one of the important rivers in Bangladesh for rich aquatic biodiversity. The river is originated from the Ganges-Padma River system, a trans-boundary river between India and Bangladesh. Once the river was rich in fish biodiversity, but due to man-made and natural causes the availability of fish reduced drastically. A comprehensive analysis of fish diversity indices, gear efficiency, catch composition and decline causes of fish diversity in Gorai River, Bangladesh was accomplished. The data were collected on monthly basis from January to December 2018 from three major fishing sites of the river. A total of 62 fish and 2 prawn species under 12 orders and 24 families were recorded. Cypriniformes was the leading order consisting 27% of the total catch. The mean values of Shannon-Weaver diversity (H′), Simpson's index (1-D), Margalef's richness (d) and Pielou's evenness (J′) indices were recorded as, 1.478 ± 0.495, 0.57 ± 0.197, 15.115 ± 4.435 and 0.481 ± 0.152, respectively. At the similarity of 58.7%, two groups were attained in the cluster analysis and the Non-metric Multidimensional Scaling (nMDS) showed 40% similarity among the three sites in twelve months based on the Bray-Curtis similarity matrix. The highest and lowest CPUE were recorded from seine net (5.2 ± 1.72 kg gear−1 haul−1) and hook & long lines (0.0135 ± 0.0015 kg gear−1haul−1), respectively whereas, highest and lowest gear efficiency were recorded from lift net (0.321 ± 0.036 kg gear−1person−1hour−1) and fish trap (0.0005 ± 0.0002 kg gear−1person−1hour−1), respectively. Alternatively, the highest fish catch was recorded on April (21228 ± 464.38 kg) and lowest on August (3855 ± 138.21 kg). According to the fishermen fish biodiversity of the Gorai River declined day by day due to overexploitation, destructive fishing practice, pollution, construction of obstacles for fish movement, and natural causes like siltation. Proper implementation of fish acts and regulations, use of authorized fishing gear, community-based fisheries management, sanctuary establishment and management, stocking of fish fingerling, and raising public awareness can play a great role in enhancing and conserving fish biodiversity in the Gorai River of Bangladesh.

IMPACT OF PSYCHOLOGICAL VARIABLES ON THE COMMUNITYBASED FLOODPLAIN WETLANDS (BEELS) FISHERIES MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

A study was conducted in four wetlands (Beels) of Assam to assess the impact of two psychological predictor variables namely ‘management capabilities of Beel Development Committee, X1 and ‘involvement of NGOs’ X2 on ‘knowledge levels of Beel users’ on community-based fisheries management’Y. The study revealed that both the predictor variables X1 and X2 were significantly (r =0.21** and 0.49** respectively) associated (P<0.01) with knowledge levels of Beel users on community-based fisheries management (Y). Moreover, between these two variables, involvement of NGOs (X2 ) was found to be the most significantly contributing variable on the dependent variable (Y). Key words: Floodplain wetland, Beel, community-based fisheries management, NGO.

Fisheries Co-management and Fishers’ Income in Inland Openwater Fisheries in Bangladesh

Abstract Community 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 community based fisheries management is to improve fishers’ income and reduce transaction costs efficiently. The implementation of the cbfm approach has experienced a significant contribution towards fishers’ income and transaction costs. cbfm arrangement introduced fisher led, community led and women led approach. Community based organisations (cbo s) as local institutions have been established through community participation under cbfm approach. This paper presents and assesses the impact of cbfm approaches on fishers’ income and transaction costs in inland openwater fisheries in Bangladesh. This study might have policy implication to scale up cbfm approach to promote fishers’ income for better management of inland open water fisheries with a long term commitment.

Fisheries resources of Bangladesh: A review

Fisheries sector plays a significant role in national food security, empowerment and foreign exchange earnings in the national economy of Bangladesh. At the same time, Bangladesh is blessed with enormous water resources of inland culture (8,21,923 ha), inland capture (38,90,282 ha) and marine (1,18,81,300 ha), having great potentials of fisheries production. Inland culture, inland capture and marine fisheries provides 56.76%, 28.19% and 15.05% fisheries production, respectively. The aim of this review paper is to provide a comprehensive overview on fisheries resources of Bangladesh, those are underutilized and/or need emphasis to enhance more fish production. Recently, inland culture fisheries production has increased rapidly due to adoption of improved farming practices by the farmers. However, inland capture and marine fisheries production has not yet been attained to its optimum level due to over exploitation, fish habitat degradation, siltation of water bodies and water pollution. Therefore, to increase inland capture fisheries production and conserve biodiversity, various approaches such as community-based fisheries management, beel nurseries, stocking fingerlings of endangered species, establishment of fish sanctuaries, cage and pen culture systems can be adopted. Additionally, existing banning rules and regulations of catching fish during breeding season from inland capture water bodies like rivers, haors, baors, beels etc. should be implemented properly for conserving biodiversity and increasing fish production, as banning of 22-days in rivers and 65-days in marine water have significantly increased hilsha fish production. In addition, blue economy has recently gained impressive attention in Bangladesh due to getting huge marine water resources from Myanmer in 2012 and India in 2014. Therefore, marine aquaculture systems for example farming of seaweed, sea bass, mullets, promfrets, mud crab etc. should be adopted for achieving the United Nations agenda on sustainable development goal 14 on conservation, sustainability and use of oceans, seas and marine resources for increasing economic benefits.

Production Trends, and Challenges for Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Fisheries Management of Kaptai Lake, the Largest Reservoir in Bangladesh

Kaptai Lake (KL), the largest artificial lake in Bangladesh, supports an important inland open water fishery. Nevertheless, detailed studies on its fish diversity and environmental threats are still limited. Hence, a study was conducted to evaluate the current fish management scenarios, fish production, relative abundance to improve the production and biodiversity of KL. Data were collected from stakeholders through personal observation, focus group discussions, and cross-check interviews from September 2018 to July 2019. The fish production of KL increased from 1,200 metric tons (MT) in 1965–1966 to 10,577 MT in 2018–2019. The output of the lake was dominated by small fish remarkably, Gudusia chapra (Hamilton, 1822), Gonialosa manmina (Hamilton, 1822), and Corica soborna Hamilton, 1822, accounting for 64 % of the total production in 2018–2019. A total of seventy-six fish species were observed under ten orders, including seven exotic fish species. According to the IUCN Bangladesh, 14 % of total species were identified as vulnerable, 11 % as endangered, 3 % as critically endangered, 11 % as near threatened and 51 % as least concern. The study also identified that climate change and various human-driven causes threaten the fish production and biodiversity of this lake. These findings suggest that community-based fisheries management, protection of natural breeding grounds of carps, control of pollution, amendment of existing fishing laws, and collaborative research would be a necessary approach for mitigating the negative environmental impact of this lake. The overall practical knowledge of this investigation could assist in policymaking and further research.

Marine resource management and fisheries governance in Belize exhibit a polycentric, decentralized, and nested institutional structure

Overfishing is one of the most severe anthropogenic threats to the world's oceans, marked by widespread degradation of marine food webs and disruption of ecosystem functioning. Global fisheries can be categorized as common-pool resource (CPR) systems because restricting marine resource extraction is extremely challenging, and over-extraction contributes to an overall decline in availability to others. Because of these challenges, establishing effective institutions for the sustainable management of natural resource systems is essential. Community-based fisheries management offers a potential solution to overcome the challenges associated with fisheries as CPRs by including fishers in the management of their fisheries through collective action. The purpose of this study was to examine the institutional robustness (e.g. presence of nested and decentralized enterprises as indicators of resilience to shocks) of over 40 years of fisheries management in Belize. I used a mixed methods approach combining review of secondary literature, semi-structured interviews with key informants across the governmental, non-governmental, and fishers' sectors, and participant observation. The results of this study suggest that Belize has the institutions in place to overcome collective action problems and be a long-enduring CPR system. These conclusions have implications for the enforcement of Belize's new Fisheries Resource Bill (as of late 2019), and in other small-scale fisheries across the globe.

A theory of scaling for community-based fisheries management

Community-based approaches to fisheries management has emerged as a mainstream strategy to govern dispersed, diverse and dynamic small scale fisheries. However, amplifying local community led sustainability outcomes remains an enduring challenge. We seek to fill a theoretical gap in the conceptualization of ‘scaling up community-based fisheries management’. We draw on literature of agriculture innovations to provide a framework that takes into account process-driven and structural change occurring across multiple levels of governance, as well as different phases of scaling. We hypothesize that successful scaling requires engagement with all aspects of a governing regime, coalescing a range of actors, and therefore, is an enterprise that is larger than its parts. To demonstrate where the framework offers value, we illustrate the development of community-based fisheries management in Vanuatu according to the framework’s main scaling dimensions.

The fishery of sea-cucumber Holothuridae in Kilbat Village, Central Maluku Regency, Indonesia

Sea cumber is one of the valuable high economic resources. Worldwide, most sea cucumber fisheries are ineffectively managed, leading to declining stocks and potentially eroding the resilience of fisheries. The local fishermen of Kilbat Village have been exploiting sea cucumber for a long time with un-proper management pan. This study was aimed to investigate the utilization of sea cumber and assess its sustainability, and propose a sustainable management strategy. Field observation was used to analyze sea cucumber utilization, the Rapid appraisal to Fisheries (Rapfish) approach was used to assess its sustainability, whilst DPSIR was applied to perform a sustainable management strategy. The result shows that the local sea cucumber fishermen utilize sea cucumber as a source of income and self-consumption. The average sustainability was 61.17% of 100% sustainable scale and considered as fair sustain with institutional dimension being unsustain. There are 8 strategies proposed for sea cumber sustainable management with responses at D, P, S, and I level, A traditional indigenous knowledge (sasi) has been proposed for sea cucumber community-based fishery management.