Local | PANORAMA

Management effectiveness and enforcement of the Kuruwitu Beach Management Unit Co - Management Area

K-BMU Members training on MOU between different stakeholders

MOU discussion

@oceansalive

Kuruwitu patrol guards training on Monitoring Control and Surveillance.

MCS

@oceansalive

The Legal Framework of K-BMU was a foundational element in implementing the KCMA Plan, aimed at strengthening sustainable livelihoods and effective biodiversity conservation. This component involved upgrading the K-BMU Constitution and operational Bylaws, enhancing awareness among stakeholders, establishing a Monitoring Control and Surveillance (MCS) system, and initiating the gazetting process for the Fishery Limitation Sites (FLS). The project achieved its primary objective under the Legal Framework, laying a solid groundwork for the sustainable management of marine resources.

Collaboration and Partnerships: The cooperation between K-BMU Executive, Kilifi Department of Fisheries ( KDoF), Oceans Alive, and other stakeholders like Kuruwitu Conservation Welfare-CBO (KCW-CBO) was instrumental in achieving the project's objectives, including the development of a joint MCS plan and a customized Marine Spatial Plan (MSP).
Technical Support and Capacity Building: The provision of technical support by OA to K-BMU and KDoF, along with capacity-building initiatives for enforcement teams, played a crucial role in the effective implementation of the Legal Framework.
Clear Division of Roles and Responsibilities: The project facilitated the clarification of roles between KDoF and K-BMU, particularly in enforcement and reporting, contributing to a more streamlined and effective conservation effort.
Involvement of Community-Based Organizations (CBOs): The participation of KCW-CBO in the project, including the agreement on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation, ensured that community interests and management practices (like those for Tengefu) were integrated into the overall conservation strategy.
Support for the Gazettement Process: The assistance provided to K-BMU Executive in negotiating with KDoF for the gazettement of the KCMA, Fish Landing Sites and other areas, contributed to securing tenure and legal standing for these protected areas.

Importance of Customised Solutions: The development of a customised MSP, tailored to the specific needs and user groups within the KCMA, highlighted the value of adaptive management approaches in conservation.
Community Engagement and Awareness: The project demonstrated that creating mass awareness and training members in sustainable resource use are essential components of successful conservation initiatives.
Partnerships and Agreements: The experience with the MoU between K-BMU, KCW-CBO, and KDoF showed that formal agreements can facilitate cooperation, joint operations, and benefit-sharing, leading to more effective conservation outcomes.
Legal Recognition and Security of Tenure: The process of gazettement for the KCMA and associated areas underscored the importance of legal recognition and secure tenure for the long-term protection and management of marine conservation areas.
Capacity Building for Enforcement: The project's focus on building capacity and equipping enforcement teams emphasized the critical role of effective enforcement in the success of conservation initiatives.

Kuruwitu patrol guards training on Monitoring Control and Surveillance.

Governance

Executive meeting

@oceansalive

The governance component of the KCMA project, led by K-BMU, was designed to enhance the management and sustainability of coastal fisheries resources in Kilifi County. This involved enhancing the capacity of K-BMU and its executive to effectively govern and manage the fisheries, ensuring that all actors whose livelihoods depend on these resources are registered, licensed, and aware of their rights and duties. The governance framework was pivotal in achieving the project's primary objective of ensuring sustainable livelihoods from coastal fisheries resources.

Collaboration and Partnerships: The partnership between Oceans Alive, KDoF, and K-BMU Executive was crucial in providing technical assistance, awareness, and capacity building.
Legal and Policy Framework: The Fisheries Act, which devolves authority of territorial fishing rights to local artisanal fishermen, provided a legal basis for the co-partnership in management and implementation of the CMA of K-BMU.
Community Engagement: Wide awareness and inclusion of all members in the BMU Assembly meetings and the democratic election of K-BMU leaders ensured equitable representation and buy-in from the community.
Capacity Building: Training and provision of technical knowledge, toolboxes, and templates for data collection and M&E empowered the K-BMU leadership to effectively implement the CMA plan.

Importance of Legal Recognition: The process highlighted the importance of legal recognition and registration of all actors involved in the fishery to ensure security of tenure and empowerment of artisanal fishers.
Community Participation: The success of the project underscored the need for widespread community participation and awareness in governance and management decisions affecting their livelihoods.
Capacity Building: Continuous capacity building of local leadership and communities is essential for sustainable management and governance of fisheries resources.
Partnerships and Collaborations: Effective partnerships between government agencies, NGOs, and local communities can significantly enhance the governance and sustainability of natural resources.
Policy and Legal Frameworks: The existence of supportive policy and legal frameworks is critical for the successful implementation of governance and management plans for fisheries resources.

4 day training of Kuruwitu BMU members on by-laws. The 50 members present ar…

Information dissemination, communication with customers

The final product's value is created through sustainable development goals. It is essential this message is passed on to the customer through the acquisition of the product, whether it be furniture, a bracelet or ball pen.

Spending time at the facility, participating in a class or tour gives exposure to the processes in an innovative and creative manner. The facilitators are expert at providing

Documentation and dissemination of results

Entirety

Local

Recycling Abandoned nets

The focal point of recycling is a step by step process that transforms waste product into a reusable, valueable substance. The composition of the net is cleaned, crushed and restructured

Abandoned nets are broken down as raw material, the raw material transitions to a Recycler. The rPET is returned in pellet form

a lot of experimentation as to timing, size, application

Implementation

Monitoring

Documentation and dissemination of results

Local

Traditional Cultural Innovation

Significant design and purposing is developed through utilising community skills that already exist. Products developed from recycled and repurposed abandoned nets display local character, flare and application. Incorporating story and background provide introduction to DYI projects available to tour groups and school programs

Repurposing infrastructure, telephone company building use as R&D and classroom resource.

Cultural weaving techniques

DYI projects provide a tangible interactive product through visiting the facility, visual and descriptive tour of processes is acted on in forming a souvenir. This product provides a focal point of disseminating awareness. Sense of accomplishment, contribution and involvement.

Cooperation with National and local government

Taiwan Enivironmental Management Authority has Fishing Policy encouraging responsible use of fishing gear. Since 2020, the Ocean Conservation Administration under the Ocean Affairs Council has engaged local governments in pilot programs for recycling and reusing abandoned fishing nets (oyster ropes) and polystyrene (floating devices). As of 2023, over 799 tons of these materials had been recycled, achieving a reuse rate of nearly 75%.

HaYi is government recognised as a collection point for abandoned nets

Implementation

Local

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Local

Government Engagement

As both the Community Fishery Conservation Trust Funds and Women’s Saving Group Conservation Funds contribute to CFi activities, it is important to engage with local government authorities to gain their support and leverage their involvement. Community Fisheries operate under a government mandate and are overseen by local Fisheries Administration authorities, who ensure that CFi activities follow both internal and national rules. Involving the Commune authorities in managing Women’s Saving Group operations helps to reduce potential sources of intergroup conflict, increase trust between members, and strengthen group management. Women’s Saving Group members respect the involvement of the Commune and are mindful of its oversight. Furthermore, some Commune’s have granted additional top up grants to Women’s Savings Groups who have performed well.

Facilitating government community relationships requires:

A trusting relationship between the community and local government authorities.
Properly constituted and officially recognized Community Fishery Organizations and Women’s Saving Groups;
Well managed Community Fishery Organizations and Women’s Saving Groups

In facilitating government community relationships, we have learnt that:

CFi’s with their own funds facilitate additional contributions from the local authorities. It is common that neither party has the capacity to fully fund an activity, but they can both provide a contribution. For example, some CFi’s have purchased a boat engine and the local authorities have donated a boat that had been confiscated for being involved in illegal activity.
CFi’s with their own action plan and finances are better able to secure the limited support able to be provided by local government authorities.

Implementation

Local

Women’s Saving Group Capacity Building

A happy group of women's savings group members share interest generated by the groups activities

Satrey Sansam Brak Women’s Savings group sharing the interest earned on their loans among their members

Ra Sreymey - Conservation International

Women's Savings Group members sitting in a circle organizing the groups final year fund balance

Closing balance meeting of the Strey Sansom Phumi Preaek Women’s Saving Group

Pheng Sokline - Conservation International

Each Women’s Saving Group must achieve a high standard of financial literacy and management capacity prior to receiving a Conservation Fund. These skills are required before they start to loan the Conservation Fund capital to their members and then provide their local CFi with the interest generated to fund conservation activities. Capacity building for Women’s Savings Group members includes training in managing credit, building a business, understanding contracts, and keeping a savings book. The Women’s Savings Group Committee will also be trained in meeting procedures, record keeping, bookkeeping, managing savings books and understanding the group bylaws.

Building Women’s Saving Group Capacity requires:

The Women’s Saving Group Committee must be committed to the success of the savings group.
The Women’s Saving Group leaders must actively participate in developing group rules and regulations. And then follow them as an example to other members.
Women’s Saving Group leaders must be able to prepare clear and transparent financial reports.
Before establishing a saving group or engaging with an existing group it is important to conduct a baseline survey to gauge community understanding of savings concepts. For existing groups, it is important to assess their current committee structure, rules, regulations and operations.
Training group members on subjects including credit, building a business, paying back debt, and loan contracts.

In building Women’s Savings Group capacity, we have learnt that:

Engaging respected village leaders and local authorities (i.e. Village Chief or Commune Council) in overseeing the operations of the Women’s Saving Group increases the likelihood of the group being successful.
Group members need to be taught how saving groups improve household economics, food security and generate income.
Saving groups can reduce the reliance of local villagers on unsecured high-interest rate loans
Saving groups can reduce poverty by providing lower interest rate loans and through educating members on the importance of savings.
Participation in the saving groups builds trust, confidence, and empowerment among the group members.

Implementation

Local

Guide to establishing Women's Saving Group Conservation Funds

Community Fishery Committee Capacity Building

Prior to receiving funds, the Community Fisheries Committee must demonstrate a high level of management capacity. The CFi committee needs to be able to convene and record meetings, hold elections, and be financially transparent and accountable. The committee also needs the skills to work with local authorities and understand the legal framework within which they operate. These skills are provided through a mix of training and long-term support and mentoring.

Building Community Fishery Capacity requires the CFi Committee:

To be properly structured and active;
The CFi has undertaken financial management training;
Has a bank account; and
Has demonstrated their ability to transparently and accountably manage funds.

In building Community Fishery Committee capacity, we have learnt that:

The CFi Committee requires mentoring and support in building a working relationship with their local Women’s Saving Group.
The often exclusively or majority male CFi Committee can find it difficult to overcome gender bias to respectfully request funds from the Women’s Saving Group and adhere to the requirements of the funding – such as providing timely written reports and receipts.
Gender in NRM training provided to CFis has helped overcome gender bias.

Implementation

Local

Community Fishery Conservation Trust Funds

Building community capacity to manage freshwater fisheries in Cambodia