Governance of tenure in capture fisheries in Southeast Asia

Secure tenure for fishers to fisheries resources has been proposed as an important component in improving fisheries governance in the Southeast Asia region. This paper presents a review of national laws, policies and administrative structures in the region. It also considers examples of good practice in the governance of tenure vis-a-vis capture fisheries in Cambodia, Thailand, the Philippines and Viet Nam. Specific case studies of governance of tenure in selected fisheries within each country are presented. Some of the good practices identified that would foster good governance of tenure in the region include decentralization, co-management, policy and legal frameworks, values, management plans, conflict management, empowerment, political support, enforcement, and community organizations.