Title

Scaling-up Community-based Fisheries Management in the Pacific Region Workshops

Towards a Pacific Framework for Action on Scaling up Community-based Fisheries Management: 2021–2025

Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs) have agreed through regional and subregional policies to scale up coastal fisheries management incorporating community-based fisheries management (CBFM) approaches. CBFM is taken to mean fisheries management approaches that are community-driven and encompass an ecosystem approach that will sustain livelihoods and ensure resilient island communities. As described in A new song for coastal fisheries, the scaling-up challenge consists of moving from small pockets of effective coastal fisheries management to a meaningful proportion of the coastal environment to meet domestic development aspirations, with appropriate national and regional support. The 12th Heads of Fisheries Meeting1 , supported by the First Regional Fisheries Ministers Meeting2 , called for an assessment of CBFM and scaling-up approaches in the region. In response, the Pacific Community (SPC) organised a series of CBFM scaling-up workshops to assist SPC members develop and implement effective approaches that are appropriate for specific contexts. Guidance came from the vision of A new song for coastal fisheries – pathways to change: The Noumea Strategy3 , the high-level lead of Future of Fisheries: A regional roadmap for sustainable Pacific fisheries4 and subregional strategies such as the Melanesian Spearhead Group’s roadmap for inshore fisheries management and sustainable development5 , as well as the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication, published by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. An information paper6 was developed from these to help frame principles for scaling up CBFM that are both regionally appropriate and nationally useful as a reference point for participants in their discussions.