Navigating the institutional landscape: introduction and overview

Abstract

Southeast Asia is one of the world's most productive areas in terms of fisheries and other coastal resources. These resources are important to the local, regional and national economies. Coastal areas are also the focus for tourism, harbour development, industrial and urban development. Unfortunately, the status of the fisheries and coastal resources is Southeast Asia is reported to be in various stages of degradation and overexploitation and is generally characterized as overfished. In the nearshore areas, overfishing and habitat degradation is already approaching critical levels. This paper highlights important demands and challenges in fisheries and coastal resources management through case studies in four countries namely Cambodia, Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand. Main focus in on fisheries sector a major resource in the coastal zone. This chapter summarizes important and relevant themes of integrated management.