Participatory Managed Access Design & Implementation

Using the data from profiling, fishers and community leaders are engaged over a series of workshops that guide them through a) defining their community goals in relation to fisheries and conservation, b) evaluating their reserves, c) delineating areas for managed access, and d) agreeing on the rules within their managed access areas.  Once these have been agreed on, they are codified in policy, and institutional arrangements are put into place for implementation.

Through behavior change campaigns, Fish Forever is increasing the productivity of management bodies. These bodies are then planning and approving new laws and roles for fisheries that will positively impact the community.

The buy-in of the Brazilian government through RESEX management bodies and a pre-existing legal structure for managed access for fishers, paved the way for the campaign and managed access + reserve implementation.

Inputs from the first stage on were critical to build trust.  It is important that all discussions and agreements during the workshops are shared with communities and consultation sessions are held, before proceeding to the next stage of the design process.