| IMOLA Project > Activities > Co-Management |
As both the population and the economy of Thua Thien Hue Province are growing, the Tam Giang-Cau Hai Lagoon ecosystem is coming under increased pressure. Over exploitation of fisheries resources by capture fisheries and encroachment on critical habitats (e.g. shallow spawning, nursery or feeding grounds) by aquaculture ponds are key contributors to the deterioration of fisheries resources.
As the financial burden of monitoring, surveillance and control measures required to implement management measures through top-down control is too high, provincial authorities increasingly view participation of resource users as a necessary element of the fisheries management system. Since it will be difficult to effectively implement any management measure, as long as the fishing operation is conducted under an "open access" regime, provincial authorities consider "group user rights" as appropriate to be promoted under a co-management system. In a decision (4260/2005/QD-UBND), the Provincial People's Committee delegates power to the District to allocate fishing rights to Fisheries Associations (including aquaculture) at the grassroots level.
The IMOLA Project supports the implementation of the aforementioned provincial decision through the establishment and strengthening of Fisheries Associations and the development of an effective co-management mechanism. The facilitation of this participatory process includes the development of bylaws, zoning plans (incl. seasonally closed areas), regulations, strategies, action plans, guidelines, and training on a variety of topics including alternative livelihoods.
The activities described below are all integral part of the effort towards the establishment and strengthening of FAs and effective co-management in the lagoon areas.
