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Tools for the Guidebook for evaluating fisheries co-management effectiveness

Task 1.10: Select the indicators

The Guidebook presents recommended indicators that reflect the good practices of fisheries co-management systems. It also presents recommended indicators for a fisheries co-management plan’s goals and objectives. As stated above, the evaluation of fisheries co-management effectiveness is undertaken in two parts that complement each other: one part is the evaluation of the co-management system itself, i.e. how well the fisheries co-management system was developed and how well it functions when compared to good practices, the other part is the evaluation of the achievement of the goals and objectives of the fisheries co-management plan. Both these parts require a set of indicators.

Because each fisheries co-management system and fisheries co-management plan is unique, the indicators presented in the Guidebook are not necessarily appropriate for all fisheries co-management systems and plans. This is particularly true for the co-management plan – only those aspects covered by the goals and objectives in the co-management plan can be evaluated (e.g. if there are no economic goals and objectives stated in the co-management plan, there is no need for economic indicators). If the co-management plan includes a monitoring and evaluation system with indicators and targets, these should form the basis of the evaluation.

However, for the design and functioning of the co-management system itself, it is important to use indicators that cover all good practices. When defining the purpose and scope of the evaluation, the specific questions that need answering have been identified in Task 1.1 and these will also guide the indicators that are needed.

It is also necessary to be realistic about the budget and the resources available for the evaluation because each indicator will require data to be collected and measured. Users of  the Guidebook are encouraged to develop their own indicators which best meet the needs of their fisheries co-management system and plan. Selecting appropriate indicators should be a participatory process that involves the resource users and other key stakeholders.

The following guidelines can be followed when selecting the indicators:

Indicators are selected based on the good practices and the co-management process in sections 2.2 and 2.3 of  the Guidebook. All good practices should be evaluated. The good practices/processes identified in the Guidebook have associated indicators (Annex 1) that need to be used for the evaluation of the fisheries co-management implementation process. There is one indicator (and more for some indicators) for each best practice.

The indicators are selected by first identifying the goals and objectives of the fisheries co-management system, as stated in the co-management plan. There may be many goals and objectives in the plan and they may be grouped as social, economic, ecological and governance goals and this will make it easier to select indicators. Then, identify the indicators in the assessment sheet in Annex 2 that match the goals and objectives of the fisheries co-management plan. If no appropriate indicators are included in the assessment sheet, users are encouraged to develop new indicators that best match the goals and objectives of the fisheries co-management plan. List all the relevant goals and objectives and associated indicators. If the co-management plan includes a monitoring and evaluation system with identified indicators and targets, these should form the basis of the evaluation. 

  • Review and prioritize the indicators identified by assessing the possibility of measuring the indicators identified (see Task 1.10). See whether baseline data, or data for different years, exists for the indicator. If such data does exist, they will be possible to analyse trends. If it is not feasible to measure all indicators based on time and resources, prioritize them. Complete the list of selected indicators.
  • This selection process should not be more complex than necessary. The indicators for the evaluation of good practices have already been identified. It should be fairly logical to identify the appropriate indicators for the evaluation of the fisheries co-management plan based on the goals and objectives.
Tools
Assessment sheet for the evaluation of the design and performance of the fisheries co-management system
Annex 1. Assessment sheet for the evaluation of the design and performance of the fisheries co-management system

Annex 1 gives more details about practical indicators for evaluating the fisheries co-management system.

Assessment sheet for the evaluation of achievement of goals and objectives of the fisheries co-management plan
Annex 2. Assessment sheet for the evaluation of achievement of goals and objectives of the fisheries co-management plan

Annex 2 discusses social, economic, ecological and governance goals and objectives, and indicators for measuring the achievements of the fisheries co-management plan.

Suggestions

There is an abundance of guidance on indicator systems which vary widely in sophistication. Select indicators that work best to measure and communicate clearly.

Resources

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  2. Dambacher, J.M., Gaughan, D.J., Rochet, M.J., Rossignol, P.A. & Trenkel, V.M. (2009). Qualitative modelling and indicators of exploited ecosystems. Fish and Fisheries, 10(3): 305–322.
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  11. Lehtonen, M. (2015). Indicators: tools for informing, monitoring or controlling? In: A.J. Jordan & J.R. Turnpenny (eds), The tools of policy formulation: actors, capacities, venues and effects. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing.
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  14. Morzaria-Luna, H.N., Turk-Boyer, P. & Moreno-Baez, M. (2014). Social indicators of vulnerability for fishing communities in the Northern Gulf of California, Mexico: implications for climate change. Marine Policy, 45: 82–193.
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  17. Tietze, U., Haughton, M. & Siar, S.V., eds. (2006). Socio-economic indicators in integrated coastal zone and community-based fisheries management – Case studies from the Caribbean. FAO Fisheries Technical Paper No. 491. Rome: FAO. 208 pp.
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  19. Wongbusarakum, S., Kindinger, T.L. & Gorstein, M. (2020). Assessing socio-economic and biophysical indicators to improve their usefulness for resource management in the US Pacific islands. NOAA Technical Memorandum NOAA-TM-NMFS-PIFSC-98. Washington, DC, USA. 120 pp.