WHAT WE DO
COMMUNITY-DRIVEN CONSERVATION
LINKING COMMUNITIES FOR SUSTAINABLE COASTAL MANAGEMENT
WHAT WE DO
Strengthening local marine resource governance institutions
We know the key ingredients and steps communities must take to establish effectively run marine resource systems. We support communities through this process by helping them gain technical and management skills, confidence, develop protocols and governance systems, and track and measure progress so they can see themselves the benefits of their efforts. The institutions we support are Beach Management Units and Collaborative Fishery Management Areas (BMU and CFMA in the mainland) and Shehia Fisher Committees and Collaborative Management Groups (SFC and CMG in Zanzibar).
We aim to assist community fishery institutions make wise and informed decisions about use of their resources.
Increasing benefits from sustainable use of marine resources
We prove to communities that they have the power and skills to protect their resources and yield greater returns in a short amount of time. Wherever we can we use the octopus fishery to demonstrate what effective management can look like. The day octopus (Octopus cyanea) is – a quick growing and resilient species that can double in size in just 42 days – to demonstrate what effective management can look like: a healthier ecosystem leads to a more valuable product, and a system for self-financing marine conservation.
Wherever possible conservation must bring benefits and incentives to those who sustainable manage resources.
From market linkages to microfinance to marine restoration work, we find incentives for communities to continue their conservation work.
Improving policy and legislation to support community management
We believe in a rights-based approach guided by the FAO guidelines on securing sustainable small-scale fisheries.
We champion community-led collaborative management and believe that to be effective, policy and legislation must support this approach. The SSF guidelines are aimed at all actors striving to secure sustainable small-scale fisheries, to end hunger and poverty and strengthen human rights. They are a tool to guide dialogue, policy processes, and action at all levels.
WE BELIEVE
COASTAL ECOSYSTEMS WILL ONLY THRIVE WHEN COASTAL COMMUNITIES DO TOO
WE FACILITATE COASTAL COMMUNITIES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY & ACTIVELY MANAGE THEIR OWN RESOURCES
OUR APPROACHES
There are eight core approaches underpinning our work. Click on one below to read more.
Community-Led Collaborative Marine Management
Fisheries Value Chains
Eco-Credit Model
Community Films & Participatory Video
