Fisheries Governance and Community Management
Summary
Fisheries governance encompasses the policies, institutions and regulatory frameworks that determine how fishery resources are allocated, accessed and conserved. Community management refers to local or co-management approaches in which fishers, coastal residents and other stakeholders share decision-making responsibilities with state agencies. Together, these models seek to reconcile ecological sustainability, economic viability and social equity across scales from small-scale artisanal fleets to industrial harvesters. Core elements include rights-based access systems, adaptive management informed by scientific and traditional knowledge, participatory rule-making and enforcement, and integration with broader coastal development objectives. Effective governance and community management aim to safeguard fish stocks, support livelihoods, uphold cultural values and enhance resilience to environmental change. They also address market dynamics, value-chain organisation and the socio-cultural dimensions of fishing, striving to distribute benefits equitably while maintaining the health of marine ecosystems.
Research from Nature Portfolio
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Fisheries Governance and Community Management publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in fisheries governance and community management across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Co-management: A governance arrangement in which authority and responsibility are shared between government agencies and local users or communities.
Fisheries governance: The system of laws, policies, institutions and practices that regulate fishery resource use and conservation.
Sustainability performance checklist: A structured tool for evaluating economic, social and environmental indicators across stages of cooperative development.
Marine Spatial Planning (MSP): A process that allocates marine space and resources to balance ecological, economic and social objectives.
Blue economy: An economic framework recognising the sustainable and responsible use of ocean resources for growth, livelihoods and ecosystem health.
Small-scale fisheries: Low-intensity, labour-based fishing operations typically involving small vessels or artisanal gear, often vital to local communities.
References
- Assessing sustainability performance of community-based fish farming cooperatives: A comprehensive checklist. Environmental and Sustainability Indicators (2024).
- Recognising and Protecting the National Benefit of Sustainable Fisheries in the UK. Fish and Fisheries (2025).
- The Future of Fisheries Co-Management in the Context of the Sustainable Blue Economy and the Green Deal: There Is No Green without Blue. Sustainability (2023).
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