POLICY INITIATIVES TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION Coastal Fisheries Policy and Planning Course, 28/01/08 – 8/02/08, Apia, Samoa POLICY INITIATIVES TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION UNIT 1 Pio E. Manoa School of Marine Studies Faculty of Islands & Oceans University of the South Pacific Secretariat of the Pacific Community

Unit 1 Objective: Understand the fisheries policy processes, institutions and systems: How does it work?

Unit 1 Learning Outcomes: Understand the process, influences and trends in fisheries policy Identify and apply relevant international and regional instruments in the development of national policy Appreciate the different types of national and local institutions in the Pacific Islands region and their basis in law and policy

Unit 1 - Topics covered: Overview of fisheries policy processes International and regional instruments and their relevance to national coastal fisheries policy Review of national institutions and systems and their policy and legislative framework Policy initiatives for strengthening the participation of Pacific Island communities in coastal fisheries management and decision-making

Overview Importance of Community Participation Community Initiatives Policy Initiatives that Strengthen Community Participation

Importance of Community Participation Rights and interests over coastal environments Reliance on marine resources for subsistence, traditional and commercial purposes Monitoring, control and surveillance Existing of traditional/customary protocols and rules in most countries

Importance of Community Participation cont’d Traditional knowledge Control over local and adjacent communities Future aspirations Long term sustainability interests

Examples of existing initiatives Locally Managed Marine Areas Marine Protected Areas Marine Reserves Community Conservation Areas Other forms of traditional management Role in monitoring, control and surveillance

Examples of existing initiatives Locally Managed Marine Areas: Community involvement in identification of site, monitoring and data collection, ongoing management and other activities Government recognition beneficial Bottom-up approach

Examples of existing initiatives Marine Protected Areas: Community role may be similar to LMMA; National government endorsement and recognition Bottom-up and/or Top-down approach

Examples of existing initiatives Marine Reserves: Can be established under Traditional rules and protocols Can also be established under national legislation in almost all countries Bottom-up and/or Top-down approach

Examples of existing initiatives Community Conservation Areas: Unique to Vanuatu but parallels in other countries Can be applied to marine and coastal areas where community has ownership rights and interests Bottom-up approach endorsed at the national level

Examples of existing initiatives Role in MCS: Community has vital role in Monitoring, Control and Surveillance of fishery Examples: Honorary Fish Wardens (Fiji) Island enforcement officers Koror State rangers (Palau) Traditional enforcement

Policy Initiatives that Strengthen Community Participation Promote responsible and sustainable fisheries Take into account relevant concepts and principles in FAO Code of Conduct and other international and regional instruments Need for recognition of role of communities in management in national policy and practice

Policy Initiatives that Strengthen Community Participation Broad policy considerations include: Recognition that traditional resource owners and coastal communities can potentially play a vital role in coastal fisheries management; Acknowledgement in relevant jurisdictions that traditional policies and rules relating to coastal areas and fisheries are an effective regulatory tool; Establishing a capacity development strategy in national policy for traditional resource owners and coastal communities.