Fisheries Co-Management: Research & Best Practices

Small-scale fisheries represent 40% of the global fish catch, engaging over 90% of fishers and shaping diverse livelihoods, nutrition, and cultures.

Co-management, a popular form of governance, is envisioned to address hunger, poverty, and biodiversity loss, transforming these fisheries into agents of prosperity and sustainability. However, success in co-management varies, and its implementation doesn't guarantee positive impacts on food security, nutrition, or biodiversity. Poorly implemented co-management can be worse than no management at all.

This guide synthesizes research to help practitioners understand successful fisheries co-management. It aims to improve impacts on ecological and social dimensions.

Developed through collaboration between the Wildlife Conservation Society and WorldFish, this guide signifies a step toward integrated approaches benefiting ecosystems and local communities.