Fisheries co-management: An experiential account from Phang Nga bay, Thailand

Lake most other coastal water bodies around the world, this Thailand's largest bay on the Andaman seaboard has suffered the similar plights that have led to serious deterioration of coastal resources over the years. Despite its natural wealth derived from the fertile watershed and tropical climatic settings, Thailand's modern economic policies, began in 1960, have partly contributed to heavy exploitation, sometimes with destructive and indiscriminate fishing gears, resulting in a rapid decline in fish and invertebrate standing crops. Under the control of State, all fishing grounds are subject to legal measures issued primarily under the 1947 Fishery Act where fishery patrol workforce has confronted the persistent illegal fishers who have taken control by their sheer number. The government has also implemented the resource restoration measures, e.g. artificial reef placement, closed season, and closed area. The impacts on marine fisheries of marine shrimp farming that has occupied the increasing acreage along the fertile shoreline have been noted, as it closely links to other aquacultural practices, particularly those in and around the Bay. Attempting to take control in this difficult game of number, Thailand adopted community-based fishery management in the 1960s with a design for people to control people. The 1947 Consitution has helped accelerated the administrative devolution and much of the centrally controlled muasures have since 2003 come under the provincial administration, headed by the more powerful governor CEO. The speedier countermeasures against illegal fshing, by local communities and governor CEO, have proved to be effective, and Phang Nga Bay in the past two years can be said to recover-almost disappearance of destructive fishing, and reappearance of some fish species, e.g. Hilsa, certain dolphins, and dugong. All these have paved a solid foundation for further co-management where all key stakeholders share decision-making and implementing their plans toward achieving their common goals. The 5-year Coastal Habitats and Coastal Resources Management (CHARM) project, co-funded by Royal Thai Government and the European Union has been devising and implementing this concept since November 2002, fortunately with some promising results. Andaman Triangle Network, a recently established coastal resource conservation group comprising relevant government departments, NGOs, and community leaders, has been active in the three provinces bordering Phang Nga Bay. What the ATN has been advocating is the co-management approach, which is intended to replace the centrally management regime, the failure of which has been evidenced by the widespread deterioration of coastal resources.