On-site Training on Practical Approach to Co-management in Inland and Coastal Fisheries of Cambodia

SEAFDEC organized the training course on Practical Approach to Co-management in Inland Fisheries of Cambodia at Siem Reap Province on 20-23 May 2013, while the training course on Practical Approach to Co-management in Coastal Fisheries of Cambodia at Sihanoukville Province on 23-27 September 2013.

The overall objective of the training course is to protect and manage critical fisheries habitats to ensure sustainable fisheries resource. Related to the above mention, the learning training has the intention for the fisheries officers to understand and get the knowledge of community-based management and rights-based fisheries management including to strengthen practical in competence in planning and implementing the applicable inland fishery management plans. As well as the training course hope the fisheries officers can be  the trainers on organizing the community-based management with knowledge of rights-based fisheries management training course for local fishermen groups.

The training was attended by the representative of fisheries officers from inland and coastal fisheries of Cambodia (such as Preah Sihanouk, Kampot, Koh Kong, Kampong Cham, Kratie, Prey Veng, Kandal, and Takao Province) including the representative officers from Community Fishery Development Department. 

The training was started by SEAFDEC's presentations: 1. The importance of resource management for sustainable fisheries, 2. Appropriate Monitoring Control and Surveillance (MCS) need for resource management in conjunction with community based co-management, 3. Community-based fisheries management: Importance of autonomous fisheries management by community, 4. How to introduce and facilitate community-based fisheries management to fisheries community,  5. Rights-based fisheries management and support system (Extension work) by government, 6. Concept and effective Methodology on Data Collection, 7. Data collection through CBFM, 8. Improving management of financial and economic activities including promotion of alternative livelihood in fishing communities, 9. Ecosystem approach to fisheries management. In addition, Cambodia side also presented on: 1. The Study of the indicator of fishery status, 2. Socio-economic information and Formulating data and information questionnaire for the community, and theory and practices on fisheries law. Furthermore, the participants discussed to develop and improve the sub decree on Community Fisheries (CFi) management and declaration on CFi guideline of Cambodia.

In addition, the fisheries officers who have attended the training of trainers on "Practical Approach to Co-management in Inland Fisheries of Cambodia" had a chance to transfer their knowledge and experiences to the community fisheries in their jurisdiction area. Regarding on this occasion, SEAFDEC with the cooperation of Cambodia organized "Mobile On-site Training Program on Applicable Fisheries Management Approaches for Sustainable Fisheries in Inland Fisheries of Cambodia" which organized on 4-7 June 2013 at Siem Reap Province, Cambodia.

The fisheries officers had a lecture to local fisheries officers of Cambodia. The topics were the same as SEAFDEC and Cambodia presentations. Moreover, the participants had a field study trip on natural resource management and conservation in Kampong Phluk, Siem Reap.

Report Trip for fisheries household survey at Rayong Province

Date: 10-14 June 2013

Objectives

1. To discuss and get more information on situation of coastal small-scale fisheries

2. To study on fisher group establishment and fisheries management activity

3. To interview fisheries household at coastal small-scale fisheries

4. To pre-test fish distribution questionnaire by middleman

Results

10 June 2013

SEAFDEC team met Director of EMDEC and informed her the objective of this trip and requested two staffs to collaborate with SEAFDEC’s staffs on the surveying. After that, social team went to each fishers group to make an appointment with leaders of fishers group of Ao Charoen fishers group, Wang Kaew fishers group, Klang Municipal fishers group and Ao Makham Pom fishers group. Our appointment was including the interviewing each leader of Fishers group on establishment fishers group, what kind of resources management activity which implement in their communities, fisheries problems, benefits from fishers group establishment and fish distribution.

11 June 2013

In the morning, social team visited Ao Makham Pom Fishers group to collect 8 samples, including interview one middleman, the main specie of this fishers group is blue swimming crab. In the afternoon, we collected data at Klang Municipal fishers group, with 11 samples, the total number of this group is 16 samples. The main specie of this group is soft cuttlefish.

12 June 2013

In the morning, social team divided into two teams to collect the data at Wang Kaew fishers group

with 7 samples, and Ao Charoen fishers group with 4 samples. In the afternoon, social team went to Klang Municipal fishers group to collect 5 samples, including interviewing one middleman, who bough soft cuttlefish.

13 June 2013

In the morning, SEAFDEC team visited Ao Makham Pom fishers group to interview 2 middlemen of blue swimming crab. In the afternoon, SEAFDEC team visited Klang Municipal fishers group to interview one company, which is the middleman who buy soft cuttlefish.

14 June 2013

SEAFDEC and EMDEC participated in the meeting of set net group meeting, the objective of this meeting was changing capital to share for all members (including former members).

Summary

The total samples of this trip are 35 samples in four fishers groups, the number of sample was calculated by extraction method. In addition, the total of small-scale fishers group in Rayong Province is 27 groups. The total of small-scale fishing boat is 1,312 fishing boats. The main aquatic animal is blue swimming crab and soft cuttlefish. There are two main activities for coastal resources rehabilitation. The first activity is crab bank activity and the second activity is FEDs (Fish Enhance Devices), which implemented at coastal area in each fishers group.

The middlemen at Ao Makham Pom Fishers group buy blue swimming crab from bottom gill net and collapsible crab trap. Blue swimming crab from bottom gill net will be landed in the morning. Middleman will buy live blue swimming crab directly from fishers and then sell to retailer and restaurant. For non-living crab, the middleman will sell to factory. For blue swimming crab from collapsible crab trap, it will be landed whole day. The middleman will buy and sent to retailer/restaurant/tourist and also to factory. In case of soft cuttlefish at Klang Municipal Fishers group, the middlemen buy fresh soft cuttlefish and send to restaurant/retailer and also export to Taiwan. 

Regional Workshop on Promotion of Strategic Implementation of Fisheries Co-management and Rights-based Fisheries for Enhancing Good Governance in Coastal and Inland Fisheries Management

Date: 2-3 February 2012

Venue: Jasmine Executive Suites Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand

Objectives

The overall objectives of the project

To promote practices of rights-based fisheries and co-management to improve small-scale fisheries management to get better condition in ASEAN region.

The objectives of the regional workshop

1. To review applicable practice and application of co-management and rights-based fisheries to secure means of livelihood and sustainable coastal and inland fisheries.

2. To conduct SWOT analysis so as to identify competency of applicable practice and lesson-learned on co-management fisheries and rights-based fisheries brought a proper and effective fisheries management for sustainability.

3. To formulate strategy of promoting co-management and rights-based fisheries by applying the results of SWOT analysis to achieve good governance in coastal and inland fisheries management.

Expectation

The strategy will be published and distributed as a guidebook to fisheries officials and local management organizations for considering criteria and selecting proper practice of co-management and rights-based fisheries to sustain coastal and inland fisheries resources management in ASEAN region.

Activities implemented

The Secretary-General of SEAFDEC, Dr. Chumnarn Pongsri, welcomed the participants and observers to the Regional Workshop. He emphasized that the concepts of co-management and rights-based fisheries are still needed enabling environment to promote in Southeast Asian Region. After that, Dr. Supaporn Anuchiracheeva kindly presented on the concepts of co-management and rights-based fisheries management. Including the important of these approaches as well as the experience and lesson-learned in Bang Saphan District, Thailand. And the next agenda, the member countries would presented on the activities/practices initiated by local community or national government relevant to co-management and rights-based fisheries in their own country.

After that, the workshop was carry out a SWOT analysis by the resources person, Dr. Kungwan Juntarashote. The participants were actively participating to practice the strategic planning in co-management by using SWOT analysis. Then, the participants used the result of SWOT analysis to make the strategy for promoting co-management to achieve good governance in coastal and inland fisheries management. During discussion, the participant was propose the strategy on “Efficient enhancement of co-management practices in Southeast Asia” which composed of three objectives; 1) enhance fisheries resources for sustainable use, 2) improve livelihoods in communities, 3) promote responsible fisheries practices. Under this strategy, it has 17 measures for example, the measure to solve the degraded coastal resources and poverty in communities. Moreover, the future activities on co-management were clarified in the meeting. At the end of the workshop, the Deputy Secretary-General of SEAFDEC, Mr. Kenji Matsumoto, would kindly declare the workshop closed and thanked all the participants and staff for their participation and cooperation during the workshop.