Fisheries Management by Communities
A manual on promoting the management of subsistence fisheries by Pacific Island communities

by M. King and L. Lambeth

This manual is based on the following premise: "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."
This manual is designed to provide some technical background on fisheries and the marine environment, and to be a guide on promoting and encouraging their management by Pacific Island communities.

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Complete version in pdf (880 k)
 

Table of contents:

Acknowledgements

1. Introduction (pdf 46 k)

2. Subsistence and artisanal fisheries in the Pacific (pdf 480 k)

• Fisheries

• Types of coastal ecosystems

• Resource species

• Fishing gear and methods

• Processing and marketing of seafood

• Fisheries management

3. The importance of subsistence fishing (pdf 44 k)

• The role of subsistence fishing

• Traditional culture and the division of labour

• Nutrition

• Informal Employment

4. Problems with fisheries (pdf 21 k)

• Lack of information on inshore fisheries

• Declining fish catches

• Lack of government support

5. Raising community awareness (pdf 115 k)

• The need for awareness

• Environmental education in schools

• Radio and television

• Printed material

• Direct contact

• Planning an awareness-raising campaign

6. Involving communities in marine resource management (pdf 75 k)

• Extension work

• Government attitudes to fisheries management by communities

• Extension staff skills

• Extension goal and strategies

• Extension process

1. Assessment of community awareness, concern and willingness to act

2. Meeting with community leaders – acceptance or rejection of the programme

3. Community Group Meetings (GMs) – problem/solution trees

4. The village Fisheries Advisory Committee (FAC)

5. Village leaders’ meeting to consider the Village Fisheries Management Plan

6. The community Fisheries Management Committee (FMC)

7. Ensuring continuing community commitment

7. Community-based management measures (pdf 28 k)

• Community versus national fisheries regulations

• Community compliance and enforcement of regulations

8. Alternative fishing methods and sources of seafood (pdf 28 k)

• Supporting community-based fisheries management

• Village-level aquaculture

• Fishing for less exploited species, and in less exploited areas

References and further reading (pdf 22 k)

Glossary of terms

Appendix Joint review of Community-Based Management (pdf 31 k)