More than Management

The second episode features the work that some TBTI members are doing to help move the conversation from management to governance.Ratana Chuenpagdee, TBTI Global Foundation, ThailandSuvaluck Satumanatpan, Mahidol University, ThailandEva Coronado, NES, Unidad Merida, UNAM, Mexico As challenges in fisheries management become increasingly visible and recognized, a shift to governance seems inevitable. But how and where to begin, and do they always imply policy reform and transformative governance, as have often been called for?The common saying that fisheries management is not about managing the fish but about managing the people is a step in the right direction. But that is not governance. From the governance perspective, fisheries management is about managing the fish (and fisheries resources) ‘with’ the people. In many jurisdictions, provisions have been made to enable fishers to participate in fisheries management. This collaborative and participatory form of management is often referred to as ‘co-management,’ although there can be more to the term. ‘Co-governance’, for instance, would involve, not only sharing of the management responsibility but also sharing of power to make decision about fisheries, including in designing policies and regulations. Under this mode, local, traditional and Indigenous knowledge can play a key role, along with other scientific evidences, in fisheries management. In line with the SSF Guidelines, these are the small steps from management to governance that can help support and promote small-scale fisheries sustainability. Policy and legal reform may be needed eventually but it is not a precondition. There are also lessons that we can learn from along the way, as shared by Suvaluck Sathumanatpan about Thailand and Eva Coronado about Mexico.