Expert workshop on the development of the Aquaculture Co-Management Guidebook
Manila, the Republic of the Philippines, 9–11 October 2023
Co-management is an instrument that could effectively foster a more sustainable approach to the management of aquatic resources.
In fisheries, co-management refers to a mode of governance through which resource users and government share responsibility and authority for the management of fishery resources, with support and assistance as needed from other stakeholders, external agents, and academic and research institutions. While the concept of co-management started to be practiced in the capture fisheries sector a few decades ago, its application to aquaculture is relatively new.
Recognizing its potential to unlock growth within the sector, FAO foresees to extend the models of co-management to aquaculture systems.
In June 2022, FAO embarked on its initial steps by organizing the Expert Workshop on Aquaculture Co-management in Rwanda. The outcomes of this workshop paved the way for the launch of a three-year project titled “Development of the Aquaculture Co-management System for Sustainable Aquaculture”, funded by the Korea Maritime Institute of the Republic of Korea. The project aims to produce knowledge products on aquaculture co-management and to develop a framework for its application as a governance instrument, with the goal of enabling aquaculture to contribute effectively to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in the long term and move towards the Blue Transformation. Knowledge products will include a guidebook and an e-learning course for establishing aquaculture co-management systems, and case studies looking across the breadth of aquaculture production systems.
To step ahead in the process FAO will invite around 20 participants to the Expert workshop on the development of the Aquaculture Co-Management Guidebook. Attendees with expertise in fisheries and aquaculture co-management, small-scale aquaculture, aquaculture economics, aquaculture governance and planning, aquaculture extension, ecosystem approach to aquaculture and climate change will guide the finalization of the Background Document “Aquaculture Co-management Guidebook”. The workshop will be held in Manila, the Republic of the Philippines, from 9 to 11 October 2023.