Background:
Between 1996 to 2005, the four communities of Ban Nam Rap, Ban Koh Mook, Ban Kuantungkoo, and Ban Changlang, Trang Province established the “Four Village Conservation Area” (เขตทะเลสี่หมู่บ้าน) or “Le-Se-Ban Area” co-management area, aimed at restoring and preserving coastal and marine resources. Previously, with limited participation in management, these communities faced challenges due to unsustainable and destructive fishing practices, resulting in a steady degradation of aquatic resources, mangrove forests, seagrass meadows and coral reefs across the area.
General scope of the project:
Upon establishment of the collaborative co-management approach, there was a noticeable improvement in the health and stability of coastal and marine resources, including a recorded increase in fish caught. Based on the success of this initial co-management mechanism, four communities alongside various governmental bodies and representatives officially signed an agreement to formalise future plans for ongoing development and resource management.
In 2011, the Libong sub-district Administrative Provision in Dugong Conservation was promulgated to provide a legal framework for conservation efforts in the area, with current ongoing development in resource management that is committed to preserving the environment and natural resources of the Le-Se-Ban area, both within the community and at the district network level.
For example, the successful restoration of the entire Koh Mook Bay ecosystem highlights the effectiveness of participatory approaches in coastal resource management. By incorporating diverse opinions, affected stakeholders were able to address multiple interconnected issues, such as overfishing and habitat degradation, thus restoring ecological balance and resilience to the marine environment. This ecosystem-wide approach emphasises the importance of considering the broader ecological context and interconnectedness of marine ecosystems in collaboration co-management.
Figure 1 The Four Village Conservation Area
(Wisut Thongyoi and Sakkamon Saengdara, 10 June 2016)
Achievements:
- Improved fish populations especially Blue Swimming crab and biodiversity conservation.
Communities have established Blue Swimming crab bank stations where fishers can deposit the pregnant crabs they have found and release those crabs and juveniles once they have hatched. Research shows an increased number of Blue Swimming crabs in the area following the initiative. - Strengthened community involvement and empowerment.
By prohibiting the use of illegal and destructive fishing gear such as trawlers in mangrove forest areas, community forests, and canals, delicate ecosystems and the long-term viability of fish populations can be protected and secured. To ensure compliance, communities have collaborated with Maritime and Coastal Special Operations, conducting joint patrols as an essential monitoring mechanism to prevent illegal fishing. - Enhanced compliance with regulations and reduced illegal fishing.
Coordinating with responsible government agencies to conduct arrest operations and confiscate fishing gear such as push nets, generator boats, trawlers and fish bombs has improved compliance in sustainable practices. As government authorities work with the community, regulations are more effectively enforced, and unscrupulous individuals are deterred from illegal fishing practices. - Increased economic benefits for local communities.
The Artisanal Fisheries Group of Ban Nam Rap operates a tour business related to resource conservation, linking conservation and economic activities for the community. Maintaining a balance between economic benefits and environmental conservation, communities split their income between tourism development (30%), an environmental fund (30%) and shared income among the group and local fisher partners (40%). - Improved social cohesion and conflict resolution among stakeholders.
At the community level, the emphasis is on implementing a management model that is driven and led by the community itself, through active participation, decision-making, and stewardship. At the network level, the approach shifts to joint management, collaborating with district-level agencies and stakeholders for broader coordination, resource mobilisation, and policy support.
Challenges:
- Conflicts of interest among stakeholders.
The use of social punishment by the Committee of the Juvenile Marine Conservation Area for offenders, such as confiscation of equipment to publicly shame the offender, has proven to be more effective than legal repercussions, such as fines or other punishments that could cause long-term conflicts and inhibit long-term committee cohesion. - Depleted marine resources and fishing capacity constraints.
To sustainably manage marine populations, fishing in breeding grounds such as the canal is prohibited, and destructive fishing gear has been banned. The community has been made aware that this is a no-fishing zone, and the establishment of crab bank stations has boosted population numbers, facilitating sustainable management of vital food populations. - External pressures such as climate change or economic factors.
Rising temperatures have resulted in a crisis of depleted seagrass, and this has negatively impacted vulnerable dugong populations searching for suitable habitats. Community exchanges with co-management groups resulted in the creation of boat speed boundaries, reducing the impact on migrating dugongs. - Issues related to governance and institutional arrangements.
In 2011, the concept of ecological management was expanded. By collaborating and ensuring community rights are upheld, coastal communities have agreed to create a cooperation plan by expanding the area at the local level in Koh Libong, Bang Sak, and Na Kluea Sub-district. - Socio-cultural factors influencing cooperation and participation.
Social governance mechanisms have been developed to tackle the issues of socio-cultural norms that inhibit cooperation. As a result, fishermen who use destructive fishing gear are not accepted by the community, while reminders that sustainable practices bring benefits through an abundance of resources are also used to influence people to work together to protect it.
Lessons learned:
- The importance of inclusive stakeholder engagement and participation.
- The need for clear roles, responsibilities, and decision-making processes.
- The value of adaptive management and learning from both successes and failures.
- The significance of building trust and fostering collaboration among stakeholders.
- The necessity of integrating traditional knowledge with scientific expertise.
- The role of supportive policies, legal frameworks and institutional support.
- The importance of long-term commitment and sustainability in fisheries management.
Next steps:
- Strengthening institutional capacity and governance structure.
- Investing in community capacity building and education.
- Enhancing monitoring, control and surveillance mechanisms.
- Promoting cross-sectoral collaboration and partnership.
- Supporting research and knowledge sharing initiatives.
