Lap, Dinh XuanInternational Collaborating Centre for Aquaculture and Fisheries Sustainability (ICAFIS) | Vietnam Fisheries Society (VINAFIS)Floor 3, Block A7, No. 10 Nguyen Cong Hoan St, Ba Dinh, Hanoi, Vietnam |Website: http://icafis.vn/ email: lap.dinhxuan@icafis.vn

LIMITATIONS OF FISHERIES MANAGEMENT OF VIETNAM

Complexity: Vietnam 3260 km ofcoasts, over one million km2 area;2730 lakes/lagoon – 434.600 ha; 2360rivers.

Vietnam fisheries: small-scale; humanand financial resources formanagement and protection offisheries are limited; 67 patrol boat toobserver 131.000 fishing vessels.

Inland fisheries department inprovincial levels just set up in 2009and more focus on aquaculture.

Fisheries inspectors and fisheries staffare not enough to control all Vietnamwater area (include marine and freshwater area) and fishing activities.

Lack of inspection’s equipments

- The rules/regulations for management and protectionof fisheries resources is not strong enough.

- Laws, regulations on capture fisheries and fisheriesresources protection are issued but not yetimplemented strictly.

- The cost for management system in monitoring,control, inspection of fishing activities is veryexpensive.

- That why Vietnam is facing key problems:- Over-capacity & overfishing- Conflicts of nearshore fishing and trawlers- IUU including destructive fishing (electric, dynamine,

cyanide fishing)

Co-management is inevitable path for small- scale fisheries Vietnam do not have enough resources to manage over one

million km2, over 131.000 fishing vessel. Why we do not base on community, give the right for

community in supporting for Government in management? Co-management method has been proven effective for the

management of inland fisheries and coastal waters havemany exploiting purposes and different uses.

Fisheries co-management mechanism in Vietnam Develop of management mechanism based on the following

criteria: effectiveness; encourage the participation of allstakeholders, especially to the local community; ensure fairnessto all stakeholders involved.

Effective coordination among the key stakeholders relating tothe management: local government, line-management agencies,academia, inspection/coast guard, police, taxation, managementand fishing communities in development and implementation ofregulations to achieve goals.

Community is the main factor and deciding in developmentof regulations and planning activities of the group; governmentare advised only and approval and support when needed.

Community rules perform well when there is a clear legalframework and guidance - clear division of roles, responsibilitiesand benefits - and the consensus of stakeholders.

EXPERIENCES FROM FISHERIES CO-MANAGEMENT MODEL IN VIETNAMModel in Quy Huong – Moc Chau – Son LaDescriptionWater area in Hoa Binh’s hydropower

reservoir , 600 ha.Quy Huong is a poor commune, in

National 135 program, with 234household, 70% poor household,mostly ethnic minority (Thai,Muong)

Livelihood: Agriculture, aquacultureand capture fisheries

SUCCESS AND CHALLENGES ISSUES• Destructive fishing, resource

depletion• Resources use conflict SUCCESS• Raising awareness and

capacityEnhanced cooperation among the stakeholders

• New livelihood: aquaculture cage

• Resources: Resources assessment and mapping

• Policy: Community fisheries regulation

REMAIN ISSUES• Aquaculture cages less successful,

less invasive control of destructive fishing, no recovery resources, not reduce conflict

• No fishing right is granted, No community fisheries regulation approval, no boundary demarcation

• DIFFICULTIES• Awareness & low investment, poor

communes, water quality of reservoir not good for aquaculture

CAUSES• Policy frame• Project M&E

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Organizing map and stakeholder participation

Son La People Committees

Moc Chau District People CommitteesSon la

Agriculture and Rural

DevelopmentDepartment

----------------- Quy Huong CommunePeople Commitees

QUY HUONG Fisheries

Association

Model in – Quang Loi, Quang Dien, Thua-ThienHue

Description Water area is a lagoon

with 900 ha. Main livelihood is capture

fisheries with small boats Communities around the

lagoon basically poor,education limitations.Poverty rate 27%.

SUCCESS AND CHALLENGES ISSUE• Destructive fishing, resource

depletion Resources conflict SUCCESS• More awareness, capacity,

copperation (The role of fisher)

Livelihood: Sanctuary• Conserve: submerged

vegetation, building conservation areas Fishing . Destroy fishing (8 crops),reduce dispute, resource recovery.

• Give fishing right “Base on Decision 4620/2005/ QĐ-UB date 19/12/2005”

REMAIN ISSUES• Still existing some destructive

fishing gear• The livelihood slow development

and haven’t diversity• Ecotourism: there are some

families enough condition join • DIFFICULTIES• Poor households:31.3%.., High

destructive fishing, economic crisis > labour

• CAUSE• The re-arrangement planning for

fish corral was late implemented=> effect to model.

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Co-management model – Buon Triet, Dak Lak

Background Buon Triet lake is a fresh natural

lake that renovated for irrigation.Acreage: 150ha, averagedepth:12-16m.

Buon Triet is a relatively poorcommune. In which, 3 villagesaround lake are poorest due ethnicminorities shared high rate.

Co-management model – Buon Triet, Dak Lak

Result:Reduce destructive fishing (by patrol)More people benefit from the lake than beforeFairness in resource benefit are increased Resources are restored, biological yield increased significantly (stocking)Raising Awareness, capacity, the cooperate between partiesThe role management Buon Triet lake. The basic research ecology Buon Triet lake

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Co-management model – Buon Triet, Dak LakISSUESResource depletion, disputes, conflict in resources using. SUCCESSThe lake is small easy to manage, don’t have fishers from outside come for fishing Have experience about co-management sharing from others (Easoup model)The support from stakeholders

DIFFICULTIES Exist uncontrolled fishing activities, lack of patrol.CAUSES The awareness of local people are limited. The participation from the parties are not sufficient (ex: Forest Ranger, the forest Steering committee)

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Organizing map and stakeholder participation

People committee of Lak District

Otherstakeholder

People committee of Buon Triet commune

Department of Agriculture and Rural development of Dak Lak

Dak Lak Fisheries Association

People committee of Dak Lak province

Buon Triet Fisheries Association

Fisheries community

Agency under district

Co-management model – Bung Binh Thien, An Giang

BackgroundThis is a fresh water body with200-600ha.Resources: fish in Mekong delta.The community around BungBinh Thien is still poor, poverty17.8% , limited awareness.Main is Cham people (Islamic) in03 communes surround the BungBinh Thien (Khanh Binh, QuocThaiP Nhon Hoi).

Co-management model – Bung Binh Thien, An Giang

ResultRaising Awareness, capacity building, the true cooperation between partiesDevelopment the livelihood (Aquaculture, traditional craft, tourism) Conduct the basic research (Ecology, environment, …) Receive strongly support from the community and government, stakeholders. Highly integrated with other Agriculture programs in province

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Co-management model – Bung Binh Thien, An Giang

ISSUE Destructive fishing, conflict in resources using between capture fisheries and Aquaculture.SUCCESS Resource have high value ecological, economic. The Steering committee members and core group are enthusiastic. Receive strongly supports from community and the stakeholders

DIFFICULTIESAwareness of the residents is low (the Cham of people), some people still using destructive fishing gear. Difficult traffic.The poverty is highCAUSESThe problem about environment Destructive fishing gear Don’t have plan for cage aquaculture

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Organizing map and stakeholder participation

People commitee of An Phu District

Bung Binh Thien Fisheries Co-management board

Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of An

Giang province

Quoc Thai Commune

Nhon Hoi Commune

Khanh Binh Commnue

Quoc Thai Fisheries group

Nhon Hoi Fisheriesgroup

Khanh Binh Fisheries group

Quoc Thai Fisheries group

Otherstakeholder

The difficulties when implement co-management projects a. The political wills and the support of government

Lack of support and interest from local government, thecooperation of the line-departments of the various levels ofgovernment in the implementation of managementresponsibilities.

The development of regulation relating to restrict / prohibitexploitation met the protest of many people, without the push ofthe government will be very difficult to implement.

Lack of legal framework for granting fishing rightb. The living conditions Low living standard of residents is low, their livelihoods are

fisheries, with very little of other livelihood options resulting tomany limitations for building and implementing regulations inthe best way.

There are many kind of fishing gears, so it’s difficult todevelop general regulations.

Awareness People have a tendency to keep the relationship to close

neighbors, so it is difficult to apply the law that harm theneighbor-relationships

Educational level of fisherman are low so consciously abideby the law are limited (Fisheries law and co-managementregulation)

Local people have not put environment, resource andconservation in the longrun, but prefer short-term benefitsunder open access regime.

d. The operational cost Lack of budget for Local Management Board, patrol

activities and meeting and buying patrol equipment.

THE LESSONS LEARNEDa. Clearly define the scope of management, object and

management subjectThe determination of the scope of management, targets anddriver for management decision to the success of the model.Scope Management Plan? What is the managed object ?Who is the participation in management? This is thequestions that need to answer clear to ensure for thesuccessful the management model.b. Raising awareness for the parties (direct and indirect)

engage in management (include community,government officer)

Raising awareness is not only about economic, politic,social, resource, environment, but also the knowledge onshared management, and community development.

c. Raising capacity for the parties Management Capacity must be priority, integrated

methods of management (development ofmanagement regulations, planning andimplementing). Participants in management,especially those directly involved in the managementhas capacity on management will be implemented andmanage effectively. Besides, they know complementand complete model for more effective results.

d. Chose the key members for Local ManagementBoard and group in communities.

Must choose the members are qualified and conditionsfor participation in core groups so that they canperform their tasks and to motivate and involve thecommunity to implement the model.

e. Develop mechanisms for management Development management mechanism based on the following

criteria: effectiveness; encourage the participation of allstakeholders, especially community; ensure fairness to all partiesinvolved.

f. Legal conditions to implement model. Regulation of co-management model must not be contrary to

the current legislation, but also has the distinctions inaccordance with local conditions so the regulation should haveagreement and supporting of government, especially thecommune authorities.

The model need the positive and responsible participations fromGovernment while solve the problems of sanctions, approval ofthe management regulations and management board. But doesnot interfere deeply into the management activities of the localcommunity.

Co-management go along with policy of administrative reformand the implementation of democracy, decentralization ofgovernment. Should be have a strongly decentralized for localgovernments in resource management.

g. Development of alternative livelihoods: Need to find alternative livelihoods for the people

from the starting of the model, ensuring life for thepeople, the co-management model for success andsustainability.

h. Seeking and wise use of technical & financialsupport of international organizations

This will enable environment raising awareness, studyand dissemination of good practices from modelsfaster and more effective. However, the use of externalaid need to be harmonized and integrated with localneeds and planning to make sure the effective aids.

THANK YOU!

Dinh Xuan Lap (Mr.): Program CoordinatorInternational Collaborating Centre for Aquaculture and Fisheries Sustainability (ICAFIS) | Vietnam Fisheries Society (VINAFIS)Mobile: +84-985024307 || Skype: dinh.lap1 | Email: lap.dinhxuan@icafis.vn