1. Co-management for sustainable
development
General principles and condi7ons for
implemen7ng fisheries
co-management
Robert Lee
FAO Fisheries Industry Officer
Robert U Lee

2. Sustainable Development
“Development that meets the needs of
the present without compromising
the ability of future genera8ons to
meet their own needs”.
Fisheries are conducted in an
environmentally sustainable and
economically viable manner
Robert U Lee

3. Co management
Is
• Not only resource
management by fisheries
managers.
• Not par7cipa7on in
mee7ngs
• Not all stakeholders
want co management or
sustainable development
Is not
• Stakeholders managing &
rights to use resource
• Process and making
decisions together
• Small steps to build trust
and responsibility
• Is about empowerment to
make decisions to protect
the resources they co-own
and their livelihoods
• Governance = jus7ce,
fairness, respect, equality
Robert U Lee

4. Co management
• Mul7-stakeholders = Complex
• Partners knowledge and belief in why, what clear
benefits or incen<ves, who decides, how it should be
done.
• Nego7ated and Process oriented
• Common agreement Informal Wri?en with
clearly defined rights, responsibili7es, consequences
• Monitored – Core group
• Legal – Ownership of process and the Rights
• Agreed plans to manage the resource = simple and
implementable Robert U Lee

5. Study Pommeroy, Katon & Harkes
1998
Philippines, Bangladesh,Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia
Philippines Local Government Code of 1991, the new Fisheries Code, and the
Na7onal Development Plan
Thailand Na7onal development plan support community-based management
ini7a7ves
Vietnam Ministry of Fisheries supports par7cipatory approaches to resource
management and local user-rights. Fisheries master plan 2011-2015
Vision 2020
Malaysia Department of Fisheries is developing a new fisheries policy, which
will endorse co-management arrangements.
Bangladesh Jointly promo7ng sustainable use of open water fisheries resources
through the ac7ve par7cipa7on of users in management
Indonesia Na7onal development plan par7cipa7on of fishers in economic
development. revitalize tradi7onal resource management systems
through co management arrangements. Robert U Lee

6. Key condi<ons essen<al for common pool
resources
Clearly defined boundaries
(High importance)
Should be manageable, knowledge of ecosystem,
available technologies , system of markers,
Clear defini<on of Members
(High importance)
Who is authorized to fish and par7cipate in decision
making is defined.
Benefits exceed Costs
(High importance)
Fishers must be convinced that co management will
bring benefits
Management rules are enforced
(High importance)
Rules are simple, monitoring and enforcement able
to be effected and shared by all fishers
Coopera<on and leadership at
community level.
(High importance)
There is an incen7ve and willingness of fishers to
ac7vely par7cipate, with 7me, effort and money, in
fisheries management. Individual or group takes
responsibility for the management process.
Par<cipa<on in decision making
and changing arrangements.
(High importance )
People who make decisions also collect informa7on.
Ac7ve par7cipa7on
Robert U Lee

7. Important condi<ons for pool resources
Group Cohesion
(Medium importance)
Same gears, proximity to managed area, religion, socio
economic and cultural homogeneity
Legal Right to Organize
(Medium importance)
Right to organize and make arrangements related to its
needs. Enabling legisla7on from the government
defining and clarifying local responsibility and authority.
Decentraliza<on and
delega<on of authority.
(Medium importance)
Formal policy and/or laws for decentraliza7on of
administra7ve func7ons and delega7on of management
responsibility and/or authority to local government and
local group organiza7on levels. Cannot own the process
Coordina<on between
government and community.
(Medium importance)
Coordina7ng body between government and
community. To monitor the local management
arrangement
Exis<ng organiza<on.
(Medium importance)
Experience with community based systems.
Representa7ve of all resource based users interested in
fisheries management
Robert U Lee

8. What must be in place
• Incen7ves – self mo7va7on or nego7ated
– Based on knowledge and informa7on
– Known before the process begins
– Easier and faster – self recogni7on of the problem
– Willing to take ac7on
– Different mo<ves Different stakeholders
• Pres7ge Poli7cians
• Money Tourism, fishers, traders, processors
• Livelihoods Fishers
• Recogni7on Community heads
• Sustainability Development partners
• Food security Provincial and Na7onal Government
• Rule of Law Navy, Coast Guard, Police
• Intl. Agreements Min. Environment, MARD,
• Image of Vietnam Head of State, Government, Ci7zens
Robert U Lee

9. What must be in place
• Leadership – from within a Core Group
– Elected
– Based on knowledge and informa7on about the
resource
– Accepted by the fishers from a core group
– Willing to take the lead
– Sharing of responsibili7es and short terms of
office.
– Should not be dependant on one person
– Capacity building
– Government are partners not leaders – give space
Robert U Lee

10. What must be in place
• Partners commiced
– Understanding of other partner’s posi7on, needs,
fears
– Building consensus
– Sanc7ons for non compliance
– Second Chance? Or Zero tolerance or 3 strikes and
you are out?
– Trust is developed and maintained between
partners
– Mul7 partners leads to sustainability –financial,
technical and administra7ve support aher project
Robert U Lee Ecolomarine@gmail.com

11. What must be in place
• Agreed plans –
– Should be Priority for all partners – daily existence
– One or two achievable objec7ves
– Keep it simple
– Build on experience = progress to more complex
– Informal at first leading to wricen agreement
– Include conflict management – locally formulated
rules and enforcement. Facilitated by government.
Forum for resolu7on
– Must take into account tradi<onal management
systems
– Coordina7ng body
Robert U Lee

12. What must be in place
• Gender– Must NOT be leh out
– Ac7ve par7cipa7on in the membership
– Good gender balance in decision making and
process from beginning
– Alterna7ve livelihoods for the families
– Protec7on of children
– Different perspec7ve
– Allowed to par7cipate and receive training
Robert U Lee

13. What must be in place
• Monitoring – the agreed plans
– All partners have the capacity to monitor
– Equipment and means to monitor
– Rewards for repor7ng
– Police and Na7onal partners involved
– Repor7ng back to all partners
– Documenta7on
– Communica7on and coordina7on – free, non-
threatening
– Show results – Networking is powerful
– M and E done by stakeholders
Robert U Lee

14. What must be in place
• Capacity development–
– Socio cultural and poli7cal context
– Capacity to effec7vely par7cipate
– Collec7ve ac7on, power sharing, dialogue
– Ideally - Stakeholders give 7me and money for
training
– Training in leadership, communica7ons, fisheries
regula7ons, biology
– Equipment and materials
– Expert trainers and per7nent and targeted knowledge
– Training of trainers
Robert U Lee

15. What must be in place
• Legal Framework –
– Local power structure MUST be in agreement
– Sharing of benefits, costs responsibility and authority
– Sustainable when property rights are clear and
enforced. Ownership = rights and responsibili<es &
important to defend their right from outsiders
– Legi7mize organiza7ons – autonomous from poli7cal
pressure
• Recognized by the community and represent the majority
– Legal basis for co management must exist
Robert U Lee

16. What must be in place
• Social prepara7on phase–
– Important that sufficient 7me be allocated to
social prepara7on, build dialogue, iden7fy
posi7ons, build trust, build self-reliance and
confidence towards collec7ve ac7on.
– Preparatory phase is considered important.
Robert U Lee

17. Final Result
• Wricen resource management plans
• Appropriate physical boundaries are
formulated
• Willingly implemented by the majority of main
stakeholders by local leadership
• Legal framework with outlines the rights,
ownership, responsibili7es and sanc7ons.
• Management plans are monitored by a mul7-
stakeholder coordina7ng body and leads to
sustainable development of the fisheries.
Robert U Lee

18. Data Gathering
Exis7ng Data
Informa7on
gathering
Sta7s7cs
Ownership
Registra7on
Iden7fy
Stakeholders/
Analysis
Gap analysis
Technical
Socio economic
Environmental
• Presenta7on of
project at local
workshop
• Prepara7on of
GAP data
• Screening
Mee7ngs with
various
stakeholder
• Capacity
building
Social
Prepara7on
Preparatory Phase
Robert U Lee

19. Social Prepara7on Phase 1
• Mee7ng to explain project and solicit
coopera7on for Par7cipatory appraisal survey
• Screening of communi7es – for par7cipa7on
• Choice of communi7es based – willingness,
recogni7on of problem
• Set up dialogue for iden7fica7on of local leaders
• Advocacy for resource sustainability
• Prepara7on of capacity reduc7on plan
Develop sense of ownership, regular dialogue, forma7on of coordina7ng body,
understanding and developing interest, advocacy, support to planning shared
understanding, priori7es of different stakeholders
Robert U Lee

20. Choosing the commune
• Extent that fisheries are the main livelihoods
• Extent that fisheries have management problems
• Extent of good working rela7onship between
authori7es and fishers
• Extent to which fisheries co management is
perceived as needed
• Presence of other development projects and social
inclusion in the area (micro finance,
• Decision on size of groups must be made based on
capacity of PPMU and FA’s to manage, distances
between communes, homogeneity.
Robert U Lee

21. Example of Stakeholder Analysis
Name Strength Weakness Importance of Co
management
Fisheries
livelihood
dependence
Social Cohesion
Individuals Local knowledge -Unwilling to group Low High Low- Linked to buyer not
community
Fisher
Associa7ons
-Local Knowledge
-Wide membership
-Exis7ng structure
-Poor organiza7on
Not legalized
High High Not only fishers
Accepted by community
Trader
Associa7ons
-Access to markets -Not concerned
about resources
-Control prices
Low Medium Only traders in associa7on
Fish Processors -Business skills
-Investment
-Know how
-Compe77on with
other
-Profit now
-Control prices
Low Medium Low – provider of
employment
Tourist
Associa7on
-Provide work
-Need fish
-Need sustainability
-Profit seeking
Medium to High Low Low -
Other fisheries
projects
-Money, Interest,
-Connected to Govt.
-Not willing to work
with CRSD
-Protect own
interest
High Low
DARD -Mandate to manage,
-Fisheries
management, laws
-Lack of experience
in Co management
High High
PPMU -Good project
management skills
-Lack of experience
in Co management
High Medium Ability to influence
cohesion
Robert U Lee

22. Example of Stakeholder Analysis
Name Strength Weakness Importance of Co
management
Fisheries
livelihood
dependence
Social Cohesion
Navy
Police
Tourism sector
Environment
Ministry
Women groups
Feed
manufacturers
Robert U Lee

23. Who is fishing, how many, what gears, when, how much, which species, CPUE, how much
income and costs, interest in co management, level of organiza7on, Who else has significant
stake do they want co management.
Robert U Lee

24. Social Prepara7on & Capacity building
PCU / PPMU
Select Trainers
Training needs
analysis
Prepare
Materials
Select and train
Trainers
Capacity
Building
Ecosystem
Par7cipatory
approaches
Monitoring and
Evalua7on &
Planning
Effec7ve
communica7ons
Organiza7on
Development
Subjects
Leadership
Ecosystem
Planning
Organiza7on
Development
Collec7ve
Ac7ons
Subjects
Stake Holder
Associa<ons
Select
Trainers
Training
needs
analysis
Prepare
Materials
Train
associa7ons
and Leaders
Capacity
Building
Robert U Lee

25. Nego7a7ng co-management
Local knowledge
Partnership
Planning
Implementa7on
M&E
Robert U Lee

26. Nego7a7ng Co-management
Problem
iden7fica7on
Long term
benefits
Short term
Costs
Status of
resource
Data
collec7on
Alterna7ve
Livelihoods
Knowledge
Coordina7ng body
Development of
rules
Monitoring and
Evalua7on
Communica7ons
Networking and
feedback
Partners
develop
Consulta7ons
Boundaries
Responsibility
, rights
Legality of
plans
Collec7ve
Ac7ons -
priority
MCS
Developing
plans
Monitoring
implementa7on
Applica7on of
sanc7ons
Building trust
MCS, sta7s7cs,
Feedback to
partners
Implement
Plans
Robert U Lee

27. Legal exper7se
Ownership
Status of
associa7ons /
groups
Responsibili7es
Review of
Legisla7on
Flexibility
Authority
Sanc7ons
Tradi7onal
system
Management
plans
Valida7on
and inclusion
of
stakeholder
ideas
Valida7on at
na7onal
workshop
Higher
decision
Modifica7on
of exis7ng
legisla7on
Legal Review based on experiences in
implementa7on
Robert U Lee

28. Reduced boats = Less overfishing = Becer livelihood
Effort Control and Management Op7ons
Op<ons Effect and Consequence
Buy back boats
Fleet reduced – Loss of jobs -Science based, registra7on, MCS, sectoral
restructuring – less middle men. Need for alterna7ve livelihoods.
Obsolete boats destroyed
No new boat building Maintenance and repairs only – No technology creep – How many
reduced based on science.
Protected areas Protect reproduc7on – science based – permanent closure
Par7cipatory MCS, legal regula7ons, empowerment, enhancement with
structures - costs, Possibly limited possibili7es
Periodic Stop fishing Protect reproduc7on – science based – reduce overall produc7on – value
added
Obstacles
Stop and reduce trawling – costs –reduce conflict – improve bio diversity
- science
Special reserved zones Reduce conflict – Monitoring and controls needed – science based
Combat IUU More benefit to locals, MCS, laws, repor7ng, equipment, Government
support to policing -
Gear and species
limita7ons
Type, number and size of gears reduced or regulated, species size or
amount allowed to be harvested is fixed
Robert U Lee

29. Example of Planning for preparatory phase
No. Result Ac<vi<es 1 Qtr 2 Qtr 3 Qtr 4 Qtr Resp. VND
000’s
1 Secondary data
report
Employment of Component Coordinator,
ToRs, Gather informa7on, Review, Final
Report
PCU
2 Appraisal
Completed
1st Community mee7ng, Prepare survey
methodology, ToRs, conduct survey
mee7ngs, interviews, integrate baseline data
from Result 1, analysis and final report.
Mapping of fishing areas, livelihoods.
PCU
PPMU
DARD
PPC
3 2nd Community
Mee7ng
Organiza7on and planning, implementa7on,
mee7ng report
DARD
PPMU
PPC
4 Iden7fica7on and
selec7on of pilot
communi7es
Dialogue, analysis of data collected during
the 1,2 and 3 above and stakeholder analysis
PPC
PCU
PPMU
DARD
5 Training needs
analysis
ToRs for trainers, needs analysis for PMU,
PPMU, DARD, FAs
PCU
6 Prepara7on of
Capacity
Strengthening
Prepara7on of materials, con7nua7on of
regular mee7ngs and dialogue with
stakeholders
PCU
PPMU
PPC
7 Training Selec7on of trainers, trainees, rollout
Training Report
PCU
PPMU
DARD
8 Year 1. Progress
Report
Presenta7on to Stakeholders project status
and prepara7on of planning for year 2
Robert U Lee

30. Example of Planning for preparatory phase
No. Result Ac<vi<es 1 Qtr 2 Qtr 3 Qtr 4 Qtr Resp. VND
000’s
1 Na7onal experts
employed
Component coordinator
Call for tenders, Interviews, selec7on process
PCU
PPMUs
2 Budget
Prepara7on
1st Community mee7ng, Prepare survey
methodology, ToRs, conduct survey
mee7ngs, interviews, integrate baseline data
from Result 1, analysis and final report.
Mapping of fishing areas, livelihoods.
PCU
PPMU
DARD
PPC
3 Detailed planning
workshop
Organiza7on and planning, implementa7on,
mee7ng report, for year 1
DARD
PPMU
PPC
4 Procurement of
equipments
Prepare specifica7ons, tendering process,
purchase and delivery
PPC
PCU
PPMU
DARD
5 Set up monitoring
and evalua7on
M and E consultant PCU
6 Prepara7on and
signing of
coordina7on
protocol
Drahing and nego7a7ng agreements and
signing
PCU
PPMU
PPC
7 Fleet reduced Consulta7ons, registra7ons, policy
developed, reduc7on plan prepared and
presented based on nego7a7ons
Robert U Lee