Coastal community-based fisheries are an inherently local activity, but the prevailing management approach to these fisheries has not reflected that central characteristic. A critical gap exists for coastal community-based fisheries because the governance frameworks and decision making around them have been unclear, overly complex or centralized in national authorities. Even in countries where authority to manage coastal fisheries has been devolved to a local level, there remains a chronic capacity gap in the organization and execution of effective management over this disparate and diverse fisheries sector.

Fish Forever’s strategy is to build the capacity of management groups to ensure transparent, equitable and representative decision making for local fisheries that reflect the wishes of constituent communities and stakeholders.