Seagrass Dependent Artisanal Fisheries of Southeast Asia

Abstract

Seagrass meadows are widespread and abundant across Southeast (SE) Asia providing a myriad of ecosystem services that includes artisanal fisheries which support human wellbeing though livelihood provision and food security. In addition to threats commonly associated with degradation of seagrass meadows globally, seagrass meadows across SE Asia are increasingly threatened by overexploitation of their productive fish and invertebrate assemblages. The abundance of small-scale fisheries across SE Asia means that fisheries management needs to identify socially acceptable and locally implementable controls on marine resource use that supports conservation at the same time as enhancing local livelihood interests. In this article we discuss the drivers of SE Asia seagrass meadow degradation and identify the need for increased focus on understanding socio-economic and cultural issues as on pure ecological information in conservation and fisheries management.