Asia-Pacific Fishery Commission

A report of the above workshop held from 9 to 12 August 2005 in Siem Reap, Cambodia and attended by 63 participants from APFIC member countries and collaborating and partner institutions and projects. Many agencies (both governmental and non-governmental) are striving to improve the livelihoods of poor people who are dependent on aquatic resources by including them in the planning and implementation of fisheries management. Many countries, especially developing ones, have adopted decentralization as the way to implement future fisheries management which often involves a partnership between government and local communities, i.e. a co-management approach. The challenge is to find a way for co-management to become a mainstream practice of both government and non-government organizations and communities. The objective of the workshop was to develop summary conclusions on the status of co-management in the region and provide some concrete recommendations for action towards mainstreaming fishery co-management in Asia-Pacific. An action plan and recommendations are included in the report.

These guidelines for fisheries co-management are important steps towards building the technical capacity to manage capture fisheries and conserve aquatic biodiversity in Lao PDR. The guidelines are the result of collaboration between Department of Livestock and Fisheries and the WWF. The steps outlined in this book are based upon the field experience of these partners in the development and extension of fisheries co-management in Lao PDR.