Introduction to fisheries CMAs

What is fisheries co-management?

Fisheries co-management has been defined by the FAO as “a mode of governance through which resource users' and government share responsibility and authority for the management of fishery resources, with support and assistance as needed from other stakeholders, external agents, academic and research institutions”. As an approach, it can be arranged in a number of ways (see below table), and can occur at different scales – for example relating to a specific fishery, gear type or community. It can involve a range of activities including the detection and prevention of IUU fishing, conflict resolution and management of protected areas. It can give fishing communities a voice by connecting local actors with those at the local, regional, national and international level to raise concerns about the various pressures placed on coastal livelihoods.

Types of fisheries co-management

What are fisheries CMAs?

Fisheries CMAs are formalised community groups that contribute to the management of fisheries, often in partnership with local, regional and/or national governments. They can serve as reliable touchpoints both for those in their community who are keen to engage in or have concerns about co-management activities, and also for relevant bodies and authorities within and outside of the community, facilitating constructive engagement and, where necessary, conflict resolution.

What role can CMAs play in improving the lives of small-scale fishing communities?

CMAs are a prerequisite for the active, effective, informed, meaningful and inclusive participation of fishing communities in decision-making processes, consistent with the principles of implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure (VGGT) and the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Small–Scale Fisheries (VGSSF) Guidelines. They are also vehicles for strengthening the capacity and operations of small-scale fishing and coastal communities, with the ability to galvanise collective action to ensure political representation, and promoting cooperation between governmental and non-governmental stakeholders, which are key objectives of the VGGT. More broadly, participatory co-management remains the most efficient decentralised approach to improving sustainability and social equity in small-scale fisheries.

CMAs can contribute to legal and sustainable oceans through developing, enforcing, monitoring and raising awareness of management measures amongst small-scale fishing communities. This aligns with the principles set out in the VGGT, which state that people whose tenure rights are recognised or who are allocated new rights should have full knowledge of their rights and duties. Such measures may include closed fishing seasons, marine protected areas, and bans on particular types of gear or fishing methods. CMAs are also well-placed to reduce IUU fishing within both the industrial and small-scale sector as part of the overall management of coastal fisheries. This will lead to healthier fish populations and sustain the food security, nutrition and livelihoods of those who depend on them.

How can a CMA be formed?

It is important to identify existing local management structures in the community, and where feasible, use existing local approaches to co-management. Surveys of communities and relevant people should help to identify the most suitable community and professional organisations to serve as operational partners in the CMA. There should also be opportunities for inception meetings, one-to-one engagements, wider community discussions, and baseline feasibility studies with local leaders and fishing community heads before forming a CMA, to ensure that the institution meets the needs of the specific community. Practitioners should also support the CMA committee to engage the relevant authorities to register the co-management group as an organisation representing fishers, processors and the other members of the small-scale fishing communities, where applicable.

How can leadership for a CMA be selected?

External entities often support the formation of an interim CMA formation committee (ICFC), which includes the nomination of representatives from each section of the fishing community and the election of a chair.The entity will also support the formation of a CMA constitution committee and election committee, including the process of drafting a constitution and holding leadership elections (an example constitution can be found in the additional resources here). When establishing leadership within a CMA, the core principles of VGGT must be taken into consideration, including respect for tenure rights, gender equality, sustainable resource management, transparency, stakeholder inclusion, conflict resolution, and accountability. This will focus elections on effective and democratic leadership. This is important, as an emphasis on simply increasing membership can neglect crucial components such as membership regulations, formal structures with assigned roles and responsibilities, and term limits for officeholders.

How are decisions made in a CMA?

The CMA is governed by a constitution and functions through mass participation and elected leadership. Its aim is to improve the living standard of the coastal communities through capacity development and proper management of the fisheries resources in collaboration with local authorities, national bodies and other partners where applicable. Through the CMA, all segments of the fishing communities are brought together and given the opportunity to participate in matters that affect their livelihoods as a segment and community as a whole.