SEAFDEC PROGRAMS OF ACTIVITIES IN 2019
1. Strategy I: Securing the sustainability of fisheries to contribute to food security, poverty alleviation and livelihood of people in the region
1.4 Promotion of innovative management tools and concepts applicable for the region
In the Southeast Asian region, the available fishery statistics on coastal and inland fisheries had been recognized as under-reported due to the nature of these fisheries, being multi-species and involving large numbers of small-scale fishers. Nevertheless, considering that the availability of reliable statistics and information is crucial to support the sustainable development and management of fisheries, it has become necessary that the methodology for collecting the data and information should be improved. One of the approaches being promoted by SEAFDEC to address such concern is the adoption of the concept of Community-based Resources Management (CBRM) and co-management, as it enhances the involvement of fishers, local communities and local officers, among others, in data collection to ensure that the collected data clearly reflect the importance of coastal and inland fisheries and could be used as basis for planning and management of these fisheries. Thus, the Sub-project “Facilitating fisheries activity information gathering through introduction of Community-based Resources Management/Co-management”
was formulated and implemented by TD since 2013 under the Project “Enhancing the Compilation and Utilization of Fishery Statistics and Information for Sustainable Development and Management of Fisheries in Southeast Asian Region.” This Sub-project is aimed at: 1) improving the compilation of fisheries and socio-economic information on coastal small-scale and inland fisheries in Southeast Asia; 2) supporting the SEAFDEC Member Countries in the adoption of applicable practice of CBRM/Co-management;
and 3) facilitating better understanding of and enhancing knowledge on the status and condition of coastal small-scale and inland fisheries at national and local levels. From 2013 to 2019, the Sub-project was implemented in three pilot countries, i.e. in Cambodia, Lao PDR and Thailand, Nevertheless, as the activities in Cambodia had been completed and reported in 2018, this report covered only the activities carried out in 2019 in Lao PDR (Nam Xouang Reservoir and Khammouane Province) and in Thailand (Nam Oon Reservoir in Sakon Nakhon Province).
For the pilot site in Nam Xouang Reservoir in Vientiane Province, Lao PDR, the activities in 2019 focused on following up with what had been started in the previous years, e.g.
establishment of Fisheries Management Committee (FMC), development of fisheries management plan, and establishment of mobile hatchery system to produce fish fingerlings for the Reservoir. Specifically, TD organized a series of activities to continue monitoring and facilitating the CBRM/co-management at the project site, and a local meeting was organized from 17 to 23 March 2019 to enhance the awareness of fishers, local communities’ members and local fishery officers on the importance of fisheries co-management including the enforcement of the established community rules and regulations, and to distribute extension materials such as posters and brochures to the communities around the Reservoir. From 23 to 26 July 2019, TD also promoted the need to strengthen the Monitoring Control and Surveillance (MCS) measures at the Nam Xouang
• Sub-regional platform to facilitate discussion and come up with agreement among countries in the sub-regions, on priority issues and actions that require coordination among countries in the respective sub-regions, e.g. Gulf of Thailand, Andaman Sea, Sulu-Sulawesi Seas
Reservoir, and supported the Reservoir Patrol Unit by providing them with an engine- powered boat for their surveillance activity. From 23 to 26 September 2019, TD facilitated the conduct of a study trip to other similar pilot areas for the Nam Xouang FMC members to strengthen their capacity by sharing knowledge and experiences among the FMCs from the other areas, especially on the success cases of fishery management systems and alternative livelihood opportunities. As a result, the Nam Xouang FMC members gained lessons and obtained additional knowledge which they had mobilized to enhance their patrolling system and resources management in the Nam Xouang Reservoir. The women’s group, on the other hand, after obtaining new ideas and knowledge on fish processing, established a “Fish Processing Group” in Naxaythong and Phone Hong District of the Reservoir. Upon the establishment of such Fish Processing Group, TD continued to support the Group by conducting training courses and practical workshops on fish processing techniques, and also provided the initial equipment needed for their fish processing ventures. This has enabled the Group to start their fish processing business since December 2019, by producing several kinds of fishery products for sale within the village.
Local meeting provides knowledge on fisheries co-management including the community rules and regulations, facilitated through the extension materials, such as posters, brochures distributed to the
communities around Nam Xouang Reservoir
For the other pilot site in Khammouane Province in Lao PDR, TD continued to promote alternative livelihood programs through the FMC of Mai Nam Pakan Village which was established in early 2018, by formalizing its “Aquaculture Group.” This gave the Mai Nam Pakan FMC members the opportunity to enhance their capacity in generating additional incomes and reducing fishing efforts and pressure to the resources. In support of the activities of the Aquaculture Group, TD organized the training on catfish culture techniques from 29 April to 4 May 2019, which was attended by 12 Group members and another 10 community members. With the skills they learned and experiences gained from the aquaculture trials, the participants should be able to transfer the fish culture techniques to neighboring villages to also support their livelihoods. Moreover, through the Project, TD also supported the construction of cement ponds on 2-4 September 2019, for catfish culture and provided fish fingerlings and fish feeds for the aquaculture activity. Subsequently, on 3-6 December 2019, TD monitored the progress of the activities of the Mai Nam Pakan FMC, specifically the catfish culture and fish processing. The catfish culture group revised the rules and regulations for group management and the roles and responsibilities for operating fish culture. The group members also had the confidence to continue the activity
after gaining experience and obtaining income that could be invested for the next run of catfish culture. The fish processing group on the other hand, planned to produce fish products once a week and allocate the profit to its members every six months, while the FMC closely monitors the fish processing operations and accounting system of the group.
The group also constructed a small hut for selling the products produced by the group.
In one of their visits, the Project team encouraged the local community to continue their activities to conserve the fishery resources for sustainability.
In order to review and summarize the project activities implemented in the abovementioned two project sites, the “End Project Meeting of Lao PDR Project Site” was convened on 24-25 December 2019. The Meeting served as avenue for the fisheries officers and FMC members from the two project sites to share the lessons learned from their activities which could also be applicable not only in their respective communities but also in the other areas of the country. The issues and concerns encountered during the implementation of the activities were also identified and possible solutions suggested.
Study trip for the Nam Xouang FMC members on 23-26 September 2019 to share knowledge and experiences among the FMCs from other areas on the successful cases of fishery management
systems and alternative livelihoods
End Project Meeting of Lao PDR Project Site on 24-25 December 2019 to review and summarize the project activities conducted at the two Project
sites in Lao PDR
Meanwhile, in the pilot site at Nam Oon Reservoir in Thailand, TD conducted a dialogue with officers from Sakon Nakhon Provincial Fisheries Office, fisheries officers from the DOF of Thailand Headquarter, and local officers from Nam Oon Dam Fisheries Patrolling Unit on 4-7 March 2019, to obtain updates of the progress in the project implementation at Nam Oon Reservoir, and review the fisheries management measures for the Reservoir. On 21-24
Dialogue with local partners on 4-7 March 2019 discussed the updates on the current
situation and reviewed the fisheries management measures of Nam Oon
Reservoir
Local meeting on 21-24 May 2019 reviewed and discussed the results of data collection using logbook and stock assessment, as well as disseminated the rules and regulations on closed season, and types of
fishing gear prohibited in Nam Oon Reservoir
Participants of the Regional Workshop on Facilitating Fisheries Activities Information Gathering Through Introduction of Community-based Resources Management/Co-management in the Southeast Asian
Region (22 to 24 October 2019, Sakon Nakhon Province, Thailand)
May 2019, a local meeting was organized for communities around Nam Oon Reservoir to discuss the results of the data collection using logbook and stock assessment, as well as to inform the communities about the fisheries rules and regulations, i.e. closed season and the types of fishing gear prohibited in Nam Oon Reservoir.
In the final year of the Project in 2019, TD organized the “Regional Workshop on Facilitating Fisheries Activities Information Gathering Through Introduction of Community-based Resources Management/Co-management in the Southeast Asian Region” from 22 to 24 October 2019 in Sakon Nakhon Province, Thailand to review the results of the project activities and share the lessons learned, not only from the Project but also from other relevant national initiatives, among the AMSs in the promotion of CRBM/Co-management for improving the collection systems for coastal and inland fisheries data and information.
The Workshop also discussed and identified the key factors for successful fisheries information and data collection through the implementation of CBRM/Co-management, as well as recommendations on future activities toward the promotion of effective fisheries data collection through CBRM/co-management.