Involve fishers and stakeholders in co-management

Overall effectiveness category Awaiting assessment
Number of studies: 3
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Effectiveness

not assessed
Certainty

not assessed
Harms

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Calculating overall effectiveness category

Background information and definitions

Co-management can be defined as a partnership arrangement in which local stakeholders such as fishers or tourist organisations share the responsibility and authority for the management of resources with national or local state bodies. This type of management is thought to be more effective as the stakeholders often have local knowledge and are involved in the decision making and management of the resource (Pomeroy & Rivera 2006). This gives stakeholders a platform to express their views and may lead to improved compliance or uptake of new management plans.

Pomeroy R.S & Rivera-Guieb R. (2006) Fishery Co-Management: A Practical Handbook. CABI Publishing and International Development Research Centre, Wallingford, UK.

Study locations

Key messages

Three studies examined the effect of involving fishers and stakeholders in co-management on marine fish populations. One study was in each of the Indian Ocean, the South China Sea (Vietnam) and the Pacific Ocean (Tonga).

COMMUNITY RESPONSE (1 STUDIES)

POPULATION RESPONSE (1 STUDY)

Abundance (1 study): One before-and-after study the Indian Ocean found that involving fishers and stakeholders in co-management increased overall fish abundance, but abundance varied between species groups, nine years after implementation compared to before.

BEHAVIOUR (0 STUDIES)

OTHER (2 STUDIES)

Reduction of fishing effort (1 study): One before-and-after study in the Pacific Ocean found that in the five years after implementation of a new co-management system there was no decrease in overall fishing effort in the managed area.
Commercial catch abundance (1 study): One before-and-after study in the Pacific Ocean found no increase in total fish catch rates and a decrease in catch rates of half of the six species groups individually inside an area with a new co-management system after five years.
Improved compliance/reduction of illegal fishing activity (1 study): One before-and-after study in the South China Sea reported that after co-management was established in an area there was a decrease in illegal fishing using destructive fishing gears.

About key messages

Key messages provide a descriptive index to studies we have found that test this intervention.

Studies are not directly comparable or of equal value. When making decisions based on this evidence, you should consider factors such as study size, study design, reported metrics and relevance of the study to your situation, rather than simply counting the number of studies that support a particular interpretation.

Supporting evidence from individual studies

A before-and-after study in 1996–2004 at four coral reef sites in the Indian Ocean off Tanzania (McClanahan et al. 2006) found that involving fishers and stakeholders in co-management resulted in an increase in overall fish abundance, but abundance varied between species groups, nine years after implementation compared to before. Total fish biomass was higher after nine years (2004) compared to the year of implementation (1996) of collaboratively managed reef fisheries (after: 457 kg/ha, before: 260 kg/ha). Between individual species groups, fish biomass was higher for eight, similar for two and lower for two groups (see original paper for data by species group). Data were collected from four small reefs (0.25–3.0 km²) in the Mtang’ata Collaborative Management Area in Tanzania (established in 1996) managed by gear restrictions and small voluntarily and temporary closed areas (some illegal fishing was reported). At each reef site, fish communities were surveyed twice (in 1996 and 2003–2004) by underwater visual census along two 5 × 100 m belt transects at each site.
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
McClanahan T.R., Verheij E. & Maina J. (2006) Comparing the management effectiveness of a marine park and a multiple-use collaborative fisheries management area in East Africa. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 16, 147-165.
A before-and-after study in 2012–2014 of three areas of the Tam Giang Lagoon in the South China Sea, Vietnam (Ho et al. 2016) reported that after the implementation of co-management and territorial rights for fishing, there was a reduction in the number of fishers engaged in illegal activity using destructive fishing gears compared to before. Results were not statistically tested. In all six survey areas and in all but one case, the numbers of violators using destructive fishing gears (such as electric shock and bottom trawls) from both within and outside the lagoon communities were reported to be lower after implementation of co-management (after: maximum of 10 persons and up to 8 boats/day, before: maximum of 50 persons and 15 boats/day). See original paper for data by individual area and violator origin. Co-management was progressively established in the Tam Giang lagoon system (two thirds – 13,860 ha – allocated as co-managed, rest open access) since 2002, resulting in 64 fishery associations, 34 of which also had territorial rights for fishing (first one established 2009). Data were collected between late 2012 to 2014 from surveys of six fishing communities (two each in the north, central and south lagoon areas, 252 randomly selected members of associations), supplementary interviews and focus groups with resource managers and practitioners. Survey respondents were asked whether or not there were changes to a number of social and ecological measures before and after 2009 (selected because the first territorial rights were allocated and all associations established for at least one year).
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
Ho N.T.T., Ross H. & Coutts J. (2016) Evaluation of social and ecological outcomes of fisheries co-management in Tam Giang Lagoon, Vietnam. Fisheries Research, 174, 151-159.
A before-and-after study in 2007–2011 of reef and lagoon areas of an inhabited coral reef island in the Pacific Ocean, Tonga (Webster et al. 2017) found that under a new co-management system with territorial fishing rights (exclusion of fishers from outside areas), total fish catch rates did not increase in the five years following implementation, catch rates of half of the six individual species groups decreased and there was no decrease in overall fishing effort. No differences in total fish catch rates and catch rates of three of six fish groups (Acanthuridae - Naso spp., Holocentridae, Lethrinidae) were found since implementation, but catch rates of the remaining three (Acanthuridae - Acanthurus spp., Scaridae, Serranidae) decreased (data reported as statistical results). In addition, no difference in overall fishing effort was found (data reported as statistical results), but the authors reported that this was likely to be due to reduced travel to fishing grounds further away by resident fishers with the new exclusive rights. Co-management formally commenced on the island of ‘O’ua (one of 170 Tongan Islands) in 2007, covering a marine area of 4,606 ha, of which 203 ha was a no-take zone. Only residents on ‘O’ua could fish the co-managed area, whereas before, there was access also to fishers from neighbouring islands and small commercial vessels from the main island group. Fish catch landings (species and weight/trip) were sampled each year between 2007–2011 (total 184 records), collected opportunistically from individual fishers (see original paper for fishing types). Catch data from spearfishing only was used for statistical analysis.
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
Webster F.J., Cohen P.J., Malimali S., Tauati M., Vidler K., Mailau S., Vaipuna L. & Fatongiatau V. (2017) Detecting fisheries trends in a co-managed area in the Kingdom of Tonga. Fisheries Research, 186, 168-176.

Please cite as:

Taylor, N., Clarke, L.J., Alliji, K., Barrett, C., McIntyre, R., Smith, R.K., and Sutherland, W.J. (2021) Marine Fish Conservation: Global Evidence for the Effects of Selected Interventions. Synopses of Conservation Evidence Series. University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.

Where has this evidence come from?

List of journals searched by synopsis

All the journals searched for all synopses

This Action forms part of the Action Synopsis:

Marine Fish Conservation

Related Actions

Actions	Effectiveness	Studies	Category
Involve fishers and stakeholders in co-management Action Link	Awaiting assessment	3	Synopsis Link
Engage stakeholders/fishers in scientific research and data collection Action Link	Awaiting assessment	0	Synopsis Link
Involve fishers in designing and trialling new gear types to encourage uptake of more selective fishing gear Action Link	Awaiting assessment	0	Synopsis Link