The Government as a Partner in Co-Management

Abstract

During the last decade, the approaches for management and governance of fisheries resources have undergone a significant transition. There has been a shift from traditional production and stock- and species-based management toward conservation and ecosystem-based management. Rights-based management, community-based management and co-management are in some cases replacing open-access and centralized government management systems. It is increasingly recognized that resources can be better managed when fishers and other stakeholders are directly involved in management of the resources and use rights are allocated — either individually or collectively (Berkes et al., 2001). Co-management systems have emerged as a partnership arrangement using the capacities and interests of the local fishers and community, complemented by the ability of the government to provide legislation, policy, enforcement and other functions and assistance. These new approaches will require the establishment of an appropriate government administrative structure, clarification of fishery management functions, and an enabling legal and policy environment in order to promote and sustain existing local-level fisheries management systems and/or to develop new co-management systems.