A Preliminary Approach to Determining the Presence of Formal Co-Management in Small-Scale Fisheries

Abstract

Millions of people rely on small-scale fisheries (SSF) for their livelihoods and as a source of vital, nutrient-dense food. Despite the sector’s economic, environmental and cultural significance, SSF are commonly overlooked and ill-defined, leading to fisheries being poorly managed. As SSF continue to make contributions to global fisheries production, it is important that alternative fisheries management approaches are implemented and appropriately supported to ensure SSF sustainability. Co-management is one viable management option that would allow for management power to be split between the government and resource users. This document showcases a methodology that is intended to be used as a starting point for determining co-management within a given SSF. It is designed with stakeholders, students, and researchers as key audiences in mind. This document will use a case study that highlights Chile's SSF to give the user a real-world example of how to implement the methodology and find evidence of co-management principles within their target country.