Experiences with fisheries co-management in Southeast Asia and Bangladesh

Abstract

The countries of Southeast Asia, ie Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam, have a current population of over 510 million, of whom approximately 35 percent live below the poverty line. The population of these nine countries is expected to reach 650 million by the year 2020. The average fish consumption for the region is relatively high at 22 kg per capita per year and is higher in coastal communities. In some countries and coastal communities, such as in the Philippines and Indonesia, fish provides the main source of animal protein. Fishing and the extraction of coastal resources provide the main livelihood for millions of families. It is estimated that the demand for food fish in the year 2010, calculated at a constant per capita consumption rate of 22 kg/year, would be 18 to 19 million metric tons. Production from marine capture fisheries is not expected to keep up with the demand, causing concerns for food security in the region. The increasing demand for fish from the expanding population will create more stress on the already depleted coastal and inshore fishery resources in the region.