The model has been jointly deployed sinceSeptember, 2012, by the Regional Fishery Livelihood Programme for Southand Southeast Asia (RFLP) and the Cu Lao Cham Sea Reserve ManagementBoard in Quang Nam ’s coastal communes, namely Duy Hai in Duy Xuyendistrict, Binh Hai in Thang Binh district and Tam Tien in Nui Thanhdistrict.
The model initially established an areaunder the communes’ co-management as well as subjects, methods andcriteria of management. The co-management boards also set up operatingprotocols and assigned tasks to their members.
According to Chu Manh Trinh, an expert from the Cu Lao Cham Sea ReserveManagement Board, the model involves fishermen in the management,exploitation and protection of fishery resources. In particular,protected waters and fisheries will ensure fishing resources, raisingtheir income and living standards. Besides, authorities will have moreforce and power to protect the country’s waters, enforce laws andregulations.
To supervise fishermen’s fishingactivities, the Cu Lao Cham Sea Reserve Management Board andco-management boards in the communes set up “trip diaries” to collectinformation about boats, fishing equipment and fishing output in thewaters under their co-management. This gives relevant sides a monthlyreview of their fishery resources to work out suitable measures toprotect them.
Hoang Thanh Hung, head of theco-management board of Binh Hai commune, said that in the past, illegalfishing was common in the locality. Some fishermen even used destructivepractices such as explosives, electricity, poison and small meshnetting, which damaged the environment and fishery resources.
After taking part in the co-management programme, they have tried toprotect coastal waters, and timely discovered and prevented illegalfishing practices, he added.
According to the Cu LaoCham Sea Reserve Management Board, the model of fishery resourcesco-management in Tam Tien, Binh Hai and Duy Hai has helped expand theprotected area in Quang Nam .
By the end of 2012,the province’s total reserve was about 552 square kilometers (or 17percent of Quang Nam ’s 3,000 square kilometers of coastal waters),including 300 square kilometers of the three communes.
In the coming time, if the co-management model is applied to the sixcoastal districts and cities of Quang Nam, the protection of coastalfishery resources will be more effective and ensure sustainable fisheryexploitation.-VNA