FAO kicks-off project to support capacity development for fisheries co-management
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in collaboration with Royal Government of Cambodia through the Fisheries Administration held an inception workshop marking the launch of a project which aims to contribute to economic, environmental, and social sustainability of fishing communities in Cambodia.
Through the project titled ‘Fisheries Co-Management Capacity Development for Blue Communities’: Sustainable Fisheries and Diverse Livelihoods’, also known as Smart Fisheries Co-Management, FAO aims to enhance fisheries co-management practices to promote sustainable fisheries and better livelihoods. Fisheries co-management is of paramount importance due to its strong focus on sustainability. By engaging all relevant stakeholders, including government authorities, fishing communities, and other interested actors, co-management ensures that decisions concerning fisheries resources are collectively made, taking into account sustainability. In Cambodia, the project will specifically focus on the Kratie and Stung Treng provinces on the Upper Mekong River.
Fish in Cambodia plays an essential role contributing to food, nutrition and income security. Fish and fisheries products are part of the daily diet in Cambodia. The fisheries also provide employment, with 85 percent of Cambodian people being rural farmers and most of them engaged in fisheries. Fisheries provide direct job opportunities to fishers and through related activities such as fish marketing, netting, production of fishing gears, and fish processing. The Kratie and Stung Treng provinces are rich in deep pools, fish habitats that are refuges for migratory fish in the dry season and are essential for replenishing fish populations in the Mekong River.
“The project will focus on capacity development for government authorities and fishing communities in the design and implementation of contextualized fisheries co-management systems at national and local levels, and on the development of sustainable livelihoods,” said FAO Representative in Cambodia, Rebekah Bell.
In his opening remarks, the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, His Excellency Has Sareth, highlighted the challenges facing community fisheries and urged that stakeholders take ownership of fisheries interventions and focus efforts on diversified livelihoods.
Mapping the way forward
During the workshop, participants representing various interests in fisheries shared lessons and experience from other previous and ongoing projects in the country, and discussed challenges, opportunities and proposed solutions based on experiences from initiatives which are supporting community fisheries at the national level. The workshop laid the foundation for building synergies with existing interventions.
The workshop also served as a meeting point for stakeholders dialogue to ensure a common understanding of the expected impact, outcome, outputs and activities and to discuss the project’s proposed work plan.
A key activity was the contribution, by participants, on what activities should be included at national and local level to support nationally contextualized fisheries co-management system and to develop sustainable livelihoods in fishing communities, thus shaping implementation of the project from the onset.
Fifty participants took part in the workshop, which was held at the Poulo Wai Hotel & Apartment, in Cambodia's capital city of Phnom Penh.
About the Fisheries Co-Management Capacity Development for Blue Communities
This project is being implemented as part of the wider Korea FAO Sustainable and Innovative Fisheries and Aquaculture Programme (KOFAP). This is a programme which aims to strengthen the fisheries and aquaculture sector by promoting the development, the innovation and the collaboration through all the fishing segment. Within this framework, the Fisheries Co-Management Capacity Development for Blue Communities aims to share a better understanding of the concept of fisheries co-management and to support all fisheries stakeholders in designing and implementing effective fisheries co-management systems and plans. The project is being implemented with financial assistance from the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries of the Republic of Korea and the support of the Korea Maritime Institute (KMI), between from 2020 to 2025.
Resources
Publication: Guidebook for evaluating fisheries co-management effectiveness
Handbook: Guidebook for evaluating fisheries co-management effectiveness - How it works
E-learning course: Evaluating fisheries co-management effectiveness
Toolbox for the Guidebook for evaluating fisheries co-management effectiveness
Brochure: The KOFAP programme
Video: The Republic of Korea and FAO: Enhancing fisheries co-management