A new song for coastal fisheries:
pathways to change
Workshop Outcomes Report
Overview of process
• Workshop with a wide range of sectors
represented; fisheries and environment
departments – communities – NGOs – CBFM
specialists – regional agencies and others
• Series of plenary and workshop sessions
• Impressive and extensive outputs, which will be
available on the web, including the The New Song
outcomes document, a summary record of the
key issues raised, presentations and outcomes of
working groups
Context (1)
Poorly-managed fisheries
Quantity of fish/habitat
a)
Fish needed by
growing population
Fish habitat
Fish
Fish available
available from
from
coastal
stocks
stocks
Gap in supply of
fish to be filled
Time
Well-managed fisheries
Quantity of fish/habitat
b)
Fish needed by
growing population
Fish habitat
Fish available from
stocks
Fish available from
coastal stocks
Time
Context (2)
• Previous support: Vava’u declaration; Apia
Policy, Palau Declaration, The Ocean: Life and
Future
• Pacific Oceanscape: “ Implement integrated
coastal resource management arrangements”
drawing on the strengths and traditions of
community, as well as government to “achieve
sustainable life”
Context (3)
• Managing communities and fishers rather
than fish – role of communities via CEAFM
crucial
• Emphasis on an ecosystem/social system
approach
• Many good, but isolated examples of
successful CBFM
• Challenge faced by the New Song is to upscale
to sub-national and national levels
Key Needs
Understanding the Facts
• Know what works and does not work in
CEAFM and the consequences of inaction
• Worse case scenarios becoming reality
• Value of coastal fisheries to communities is
frequently understated
• Further analytical work on inshore fisheries
will however better define problems and help
to focus inputs where they will have the best
effect
Advocacy and Political Will
• Significant commitment in terms of resources
and support at all levels will be needed
• Support at the highest political levels and
beyond the fisheries sector vital if hard
decisions are to be made and real change
happen at a meaningful scale.
• Champions for the cause of sustainable
coastal fisheries needed at all levels.
Scaling up
• Small pockets of effective coastal fisheries
management not enough to address the
problem.
• Awareness of CBFM widespread but
commitment from government and other
stakeholders to commit resources vital if scale
up to national level is to be achieved
Balancing offshore and inshore
fisheries
• Historical focus of fisheries departments has been
on development and tuna fisheries
• Good management enables development
• The ongoing livelihoods and food security
benefits of good coastal fisheries management
are clear
• Now is the time to ensure there is an appropriate
level of resources to securing the sustainable
future of coastal fisheries
• Relying on external funding on an ad-hoc project
basis is a risk.
Supporting Communities
• Coastal fisheries management is about
supporting people at the community level and
not just managing fish.
• Communities must be supported empowered,
motivated, and adequately
• Traditional and local management will often
be effective in their own right, but
Governments have a role where different
forms of coastal management are required.
Women and Youth
• Women and youth are integral to successful
coastal fisheries management.
• Their role often overlooked or diminished.
• Vital that the voices of women and youth are
heard and acted upon
• In addition to playing a greater role in
decision-making, women and youth must
share more equitably in the benefits flowing
from coastal fisheries.
Closing the Gap
• Minimising and filling the gap to meet
increases in fish demand from growing
populations will require using alternative
sources of protein including tuna and bycatch,
coastal FADs etc
• Inclusion of alternative sources of protein, and
other foods, as diets diversify will require
need to avoid the risk of diet-related
Non‐Communicable Diseases (NCDs)
Working Together
• Huge range of stakeholders with a range of
complex interactions.
• Stakeholders must sing in harmony from the
same songbook, or risk being ineffective.
• Communities must have direct and effective
contact and support from all relevant
participants, and particular ‘local’ government
A holistic apporach
• While unsustainable fishing is a key factor
there are others
• Mining, logging, development associated with
urbanisation, tourism and the growth of cities,
climate change and natural disasters
• Fisheries cannot be managed in isolation
Using the right methods
• One size will not fit all coastal fisheries management must
fit local
• CEAFM is central to our efforts, but other tools and
mechanisms will be required, including control of exports
and regulatory approaches as defined in statute.
• CEAFM is difficult to implement in urban areas or places
with contested marine tenure.
• Where reliance on CEAFM is not appropriate, government
will have a particularly critical role. Developing and
resourcing relevant and effective monitoring, control and
surveillance
• Approaches must also be simple, realistic and
implementable.
Maintaining livelihoods
• Increasing need for cash in coastal communities is
increasing.
• If income is reduced from management measures
in the short term, this may cause hardship and a
reluctance to adopt CEAFM.
• Alternative livelihoods should not be ‘traded off’
as a prerequisite to taking effective fisheries
management decisions, which will secure longerterm incomes and underpin the future
sustainability of coastal communities.
The New Song
• To make this broad vision more meaningful, eight
outcome statements were developed and agreed,
along with intermediate outcomes, activities and
responsibilities,.
• The suggested approach seeks to be nonprescriptive.
• It is designed to provide direction and encourage
coordination, cooperation and an effective use of
regional and other support services
Barriers (1)
– Geographical isolation, the extent of coastlines
and the diversity of coastal communities.
– Lack of political profile, will and support in
advancing CEAFM, including services delivered at
the sub-national level.
– Inadequate focus on coastal fisheries
management by fisheries agencies compared to
the offshore tuna sector, with limited capacity and
resources being applied to coastal fisheries
management.
Barriers (2)
– Outdated management policy, legislation and
planning, with little or no monitoring of
effectiveness or sustainability.
– Lack of relevant data, analysis and knowledge to
inform management at all levels.
– Inadequate empowerment of local communities
and links with sub-national government.
– Poor stakeholder collaboration/connection at the
national level and regional level.
Barriers (3)
– Inadequate compliance with fisheries rules and
variable/inadequate sanctions.
– Lack of integration of CEAFM into national
economic policy and strategies.
– Failure to recognize the crucial role women play in
the management and sustainable use of inshore
fisheries resources.
– Limited alternative livelihoods and lack of
available commercial funding mechanisms to
support small-scale community livelihoods.
The Vision
Sustainable well managed inshore fisheries,
underpinned by community based approaches
that provide food security, long-term economic,
social, and ecological benefits to our
communities
Overarching Outcomes
1. Improved wellbeing of coastal
communities
1. Productive and healthy ecosystems and
fish stocks
#1: Informed, empowered coastal communities
with clearly defined user rights
• Informed and compliant communities – robust
awareness and communication programmes
• Coastal fisheries management and marine
ecosystems included in school curriculum
• Legal framework recognising community
empowerment
• Community management programmes
• Strong partnerships at all levels
# 2: Adequate information to inform
management and policy
• Government and community managers have quality
information to inform decisions
• Science is translated into simple and informative
material to guide community management
• Communities have a greater understanding of status,
biology and habitats of key species (in addition to
existing local ecological knowledge)
#3: Recognition of, and strong political co
support for, coastal fisheries management at a
national and sub-national scale
• Informed and supportive politicians at the national
and sub-national levels
• Adequate budget allocations for coastal fisheries
management
• Coastal fisheries management is a permanent
agenda item at regional meetings (e.g. PIF, MSG, SPC,
FFA)
• Raised public awareness of coastal fisheries through
the use of celebrities, role models and other media
#4: Re-focused fisheries agencies that are
transparent, accountable, and adequately
resourced, supporting coastal fisheries
management underpinned by CEAFM
• Coastal fisheries management is adequately
resourced
• Fisheries departments are transparently reporting on
activities and finances
• Reviewed and integrated coastal fisheries
management activities
• Coastal fisheries staff conducting effective CEAFM
activities
• All regions have dedicated coastal fisheries unit
• Raised community awareness of coastal fisheries
# 5: Strong and up-to-date management policy,
legislation and planning
• Updated coastal fisheries policies guiding
management
• Updated legislation that allows policy to be
implemented and empowers communities
• Effective policy implementation through plans,
monitoring and evaluation
• Illegal, unsustainable and unregulated fishing is
minimized
# 6: Effective collaboration and coordination
between stakeholders and key sectors of
influence
• Coastal fisheries management is included in broader
development processes
• National forums are coordinating and providing crosssector advice relevant to coastal fisheries management
• Faith-based groups are integrated into coastal fisheries
management activities
• Private sector, microfinance providers and land-based
actors are involved in CEAFM
• Regional and national coordination of policy
• Increased spread and quality of CEAFM among
communities
# 7: More equitable distribution of benefits and
decision making within communities, including
women and youth
• Equitable distribution of benefits within communities
• Greater inclusivity of decision-making while
acknowledging traditional hierarchies
• Decision-making processes are transparent
• Plans take account of equity issues, especially those
involving gender and youth
# 8: Diverse livelihoods reducing pressure on
fisheries resources, enhancing community
incomes, and contributing to improved
fisheries management
• Diverse livelihoods contribute to coastal fisheries
management
• Enhance value of wild-caught fisheries
Roles of Governments, SPC and other
stakeholders
• There is a need to commit to substantial support for a
community-driven approach to coastal fisheries
management.
• The different forms of support necessary from
governments and all other stakeholders are outlined in the
following tables and will be addressed in follow-up work.
• SPC will be responsible for building momentum for this new
direction and supporting, facilitating and preparing regular
assessments of progress with the New Song.
• A coordinated approach is necessary which will include
communities and fisheries departments, working together
with stakeholders from a range of other sectors, including
health, environment, agriculture and climate change in
recognition of fish in the broader Pacific food system.
Monitoring and Evaluation
• If the New Song is to be effective, it is vital to
monitor progress and identify and address critical
issues in a timely manner and take account of the
dynamic nature of coastal communities and
ecosystems.
• The tables below make preliminary suggestions
as to possible performance indicators.
• Monitoring of the New Song will provide an
opportunity for the region to report to Leaders
on coastal fisheries, including under the FFA/SPC
‘Future of Fisheries’ initiative.
Thank you and good afternoon (bon apres midi)