Integrating Fishing Community and Fisheries Concerns into

Coastal/Wetland Management Initiatives and Policies in Asia: Present situations and possible ways forward

ICSF, Siem Reap, May 2007Magnus Torell, SEAFDEC

Social background: urban/rural differences

Fishing and people involved in fishing Rural – traditional with a history in the area

(traditional rights) based on fisheries sometimes mixed with agriculture and forestry and related (small scale) activities, including traders in smaller scale

Urban – migratory fishworkers (international), factory workers fish processing, crew and captains, fleet owners

Social background: urban/rural differences, cont.

Non-fisheries people occupying space in coastal areas – urban/rural

Rural – non-traditional: linked to modern sectors such as tourism and recreation or extraction of natural resources (tin, sand), etc

?? Where does operators/owners of larger scale aquaculture/shrimp ponds belong

Urban – non-traditional: building up urban centres around trade, harbours, industrial establishments, tourism, commerce, etc in coastal or near coastal areas. Traditions differ from rural coastal people

Growing competition over space in

coastal areas Sectors and developments competing for space in marine and

coastal areas Capture fisheries “Rural” fishing – “urban” fishing

Offshore Oil and gas explorations Shipping – shipping lanes, traffic separation schemes, etc Tin dredging Sand mining Coral mining Aquaculture – cage culture, sea weed/algae Tourism/recreation – venturing offshore

Growing competition over space in coastal areas, cont.

Onshore Industrial estates Harbour development – Commercial, Marinas, Fisheries City/urban development Tourism/recreation – hotels, restaurants, shopping, golf,

tennis, etc Other infrastructure – roads, bridges, sewage/waste treatment Aquaculture – ponds (fish, shrimps, etc

The traditional rights of coastal people to live along coast and access resources – how is that secured in perspectives of heavy competition?????

Coastal Management Initiatives:Institutional complexities and over-lapping

responsibilities Managing the “coast” – maintaining coastal features Managing resources exploitation along the coast and offshore Managing infrastructure developments along the coast (growing cities,

harbour development, industrial cites, tourist establishments, roads, etc)

Management of waste (solid and liquid) and pollutants affecting coastal areas

Management of a combined planning (integrated?) “Management” of over-lapping, unclear and weak legal and

institutional structures Management of the social fabric (how to secure traditional rights to

coastal space…?) ???? Where does fisheries and small fishing communities fit ???

Present situation There have been a number of Coastal (Zone) Management projects

and initiatives: experience indicates a difficulty to maintain structure and organisation beyond the project periods. Will this happen with the nicely organised and implemented CZM of Cambodia

There is a general agreement on institutional and legal “confusion” and overlaps

Seen from the fisheries side: the institutional base is not within the fisheries agencies

Seen from the side of (integrated) planning: the institutional base is not within the Ministries of Planning

It is difficult to incorporate small-scale fisheries and the rights of fishing communities in the broader context: the CHARM project in Thailand tried to build on fishing communities (and it had its base within the DOF of Thailand)

Workshop presentations clear in difficulties for fisherfolk

Possible ways forward “Decentralisation in the perspective of globalisation” The fishing “sector” needs to sort out where they are and where they

want to be moving – social management, environmental management, economic management and/or “fisheries management”

Better involvement of “fisheries” representation in physical and economic planning

Better involvement of “fisheries” representation in discussions on international conventions and agreements

Cooperation and coordination at all levels…!!!! Creating “untraditional” alliances Awareness rising among policy makers, on the opportunities and

importance to maintain a healthy environment and secure social status of coastal (and inland) villagers

Final remarks and thoughts

“Participation” – Now you participate! Now you don’t (but untold)! “Who” are participating on “who’s” terms – is it the “government” that participates on the terms of the coastal fisherfolk, or is it the other way around???? – and where are government and people when the (global) private sectors “dictates” (WTO, etc…)

But again, and again, the big challenge ahead is to secure the rights for people in this and similar areas can remain where they belong (see pictures).