Policy recommendations on co-management in fisheries

Policy recommendations on co-management in fisheries

November 27, 2018

The protection of aquatic resources plays an extremely important role in the protection of the environment and the conservation of both marine and inland freshwater biodiversity resources. Aquatic resource protection and development activities are vital for creating a source of livelihood for millions of fisher families and enabling them, through their offshore fishing activities, to contribute to preserving national sovereignty and security of sea waters and islands. Unfortunately Vietnam’s marine resources now are being depleted rapidly due to ineffective management and unsound exploitation. It is impossible to have success in the management of aquatic resources if this endeavor only relies on the State’s resources. Therefore, innovations in aquatic resource management become almost essential. International experiences indicate that the management of natural resources and/or aquatic resource should rely on local communities through a co-management pattern. Since the 16th century, the Nguyễn dynasties had applied bidding for fishery and aquatic resource taxes through the allocation of coastal seawaters to local fisher communities for management, and as the result, this brought in positive results. By inheriting relevant lessons from our ancestors and applying international co-management experiences, the Government has studied and suggested the National Assembly for the inclusion of the aquatic resource co-management pattern into the revised Law on Fisheries.