Smart Fisheries Co-Management (SFC)
Aquatic products are vital to many economies and livelihoods, but their sustainability is threatened by population growth, climate change, and rising food demand, impacting social systems, economies, food security, and nutrition. Fisheries co-management offers a sustainable solution by addressing these challenges, while empowering small-scale communities to share knowledge and shape policies.
The Smart Fisheries Co-Management project promotes effective and
efficient co-management strategies for sustainable governance of fisheries
at both national and local levels, with a concurrent focus on improving the
communities’ livelihoods and wellbeing. The project is currently operating in:
Fisheries co-management knowledge tools
Guidebook for evaluating fisheries co-management effectiveness
The Guidebook offers a process and method to evaluate the performance of a fisheries co-management system and its plan in order to enhance its effectiveness in delivering benefits and in contributing to environmental, social and economic sustainability and good governance. It is to be used to evaluate the effectiveness of an existing fisheries co-management system operating at a fishery, community or sector level, or in a spatially defined area.
e-Learning course: Evaluating fisheries co-management effectiveness
This course offers a process and method to evaluate the performance of a fisheries co-management system, in order to enhance its effectiveness in delivering benefits and contributing to environmental, social and economic sustainability and good governance.
Guidebook for evaluating fisheries co-management effectiveness: How it works
This handbook, “How it works” complements the FAO Guidebook for evaluating fisheries co-management effectiveness. It includes a brief synopsis of the main topics covered and an overview of the detailed evaluation process described in the Guidebook.
Tools for the Guidebook for evaluating fisheries co-management effectiveness
The online collection of tools and resources can be used in the evaluation process that is described in the Guidebook. The tools and resources may be useful to the planners, evaluation team and participating stakeholders.
Training Syllabus for Evaluating Fisheries Co-Management Effectiveness
The document provides a structured framework for assessing the performance of fisheries co-management systems. It offers a comprehensive outline that trainers can modify, customize, and expand upon as necessary to suit the specific requirements of their audience.
A global analysis of the pre-implementation phase of co-management systems: an academic and policy literature review
This study analyses the complexities of the pre-implementation phase, based on a set of indicators about the context, attributes, pre-existing conditions, drivers, governance approaches, participatory processes, and enabling conditions associated with co-management systems. This analytical framework is based on an extensive literature review, encompassing both academic and policy documents.
News
Keeping fish, and fishers, safe in Cambodia’s waters
13/03/2026
Community Fisheries in Cambodia face real risks every time they go out on patrol: unpredictable waterways, potential confrontations with illegal...
From fishponds to ecotourism: building resilient livelihoods in Cambodia
02/12/2025
In November 2025, the FAO Smart Fisheries Co-management project conducted a series of training workshops in Cambodia's Stung Treng and Kratie provinces....
A journey of learning: Cambodia’s Community Fisheries study tour in the Republic of Korea
28/11/2025
From fisheries co-management to sustainable aquaculture and ecotourism, the Republic of Korea offers a wealth of knowledge for countries seeking to...
Diving into opportunity: building sustainable futures in Mozambique
26/11/2025
In the coastal communities of Mozambique, freediving holds the potential to create new livelihood opportunities that extend beyond traditional fishing....
Expanding livelihood opportunities in Mozambique fishing communities
12/11/2025
The wellbeing of communities that depend on the fisheries sector extends far beyond the act of fishing itself. This sector encompasses a wide range...
Community-based management in Mozambique goes beyond traditional fishing activities
01/10/2025
The Sustainable Fisheries Co-management (SFC) project continues to make significant progress in Vilankulo, Mozambique, where local fishing communities...
Publications
Guidebook for evaluating fisheries co-management effectiveness (Also available in Chinese, Spanish, Portuguese and Arabic)
17/10/2022
The Guidebook for evaluating fisheries co-management effectiveness provides a method to assess how well a co-management system and plan perform in delivering benefits and supporting environmental, social, and economic sustainability. It can be used for systems at fishery, community, or sector levels, or in defined areas. The approach is flexible and adaptable to various fisheries management contexts and characteristics.
Fisheries Value Chain Analysis in Kampi Community Fisheries, Kratie and Ou Mreah Community Fisheries, Stung Treng Provinces of Cambodia - Key summary
03/07/2025
The fisheries sector in Cambodia is of vital importance because it enhances food and nutrition security, generates employment and income for many communities, and contributes significantly to the national economy.This document summarizes a review of fisheries Value Chain Analysis (VCA) conducted in the Kampi and Ou Mreah Community Fisheries (CFis) in Cambodia, aimed at identifying opportunities and challenges to enhance sustainable fisheries and livelihoods.
Report of the Interregional Workshop on Fisheries Co-management Capacity Development
24/02/2025
The report summarizes the results of the Interregional Workshop on Fisheries Co-management Capacity Development, held in Busan, Republic of Korea from 29 November to 1 December 2022 in hybrid mode. The workshop aimed at launching the knowledge products developed under the FAO projects “Fisheries Co-Management Capacity Development for Blue Communities: Sustainable Fisheries and Diverse Livelihoods” and “Fisheries Co-Management Capacity Development Program”.
e-Learning
Evaluating fisheries co-management effectiveness (in Spanish)
15/09/2025
This course, in Spanish, offers a process and method to evaluate the performance of a fisheries co-management system, in order to enhance its effectiveness in delivering benefits and contributing to environmental, social and economic sustainability and good governance. Also available in:
Evaluating fisheries co-management effectiveness
27/10/2022
This course offers a process and method to evaluate the performance of a fisheries co-management system, in order to enhance its effectiveness in delivering benefits and contributing to environmental, social and economic sustainability and good governance.
Videos
The Republic of Korea and FAO: Enhancing fisheries co-management
19/01/2022
The SFC project promotes fisheries co-management to ensure sustainable fishing. By supporting community participation, securing fishing rights, combating illegal fishing, and improving data collection, this program helps build a healthier ocean for generations to come.
Events
10/3
2026
12/3
2026
The Mozambique Terminal Workshops for the Project Smart Fisheries Co-management
Mozambique (Mozambique), 10/03/2026 - 12/03/2026
The Smart Fisheries Co-Management (SFC) project, formally titled "Fisheries Co-management Capacity Development for Blue Communities: Sustainable Fisheries and Diverse Livelihoods", is a five-year FAO initiative funded by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries of the Republic of Korea, implemented between 2020 and 2025.
To mark the conclusion of project activities in
1/9
2025
6/9
2025
Strenghthen the co-management agreement in Vilankulo
Mozambique (Mozambique), 01/09/2025 - 06/09/2025
In coordination with the National Fisheries Administration (ADNAP) in Maputo, the SFC project is supporting the revitalization and restructuring of CCPs in the three fishing communities in Vilankulo, selected to benefit from the project. The SFC Project is supporting the initiative as part of the strengthening of the co-management system, in general, and specifically the local...
21/7
2025
25/9
2025
SFC project continues 2025 aquaculture and ecotourism training workshops in Cambodia
Ou Mreah (Cambodia), 21/07/2025 - 25/09/2025
The Smart Fisheries Co-Management (SFC) project continues its series of training workshops in Cambodia , running from 21 to 25 July. These workshops support sustainable livelihoods by promoting aquaculture and community-based ecotourism as viable alternatives to reliance on capture fishery reso...