The enhanced leadership of the fishers who are elected to represent their communities in MIHARI’s different activities is vital for the network to exist as a true fishers’ movement. Their self-confidence to speak up and active participation in the discussions and consultations, support and feed the partnership between NGOs and LMMAs communities.
Capacity building in leadership, negotiations skills, public speaking.
The fact that the MIHARI network is an official organisation, that gives small-scale fishers legitimacy to engage and take part in negotiations.
Being an elected representative gives accountability towards one’s community.
Consultations on fishers needs, in terms of training, was important to provide the right capacity building activities.
Learning by doing and peer-to-peer exchange were as important as formal trainings.
In 2015 started the consultations among all MIHARI members, to establish a clear and functioning structure. There are 45 fishers who are elected to be representatives of their region, and who meet regionally or nationally every year. They also have opportunities during these events to approach directly government officials, which has had a great impact.
Existence of community leaders who were motivated and engaged to contribute to MIHARI governance.
Fishers trainings since the creation of MIHARI, which allowed the emergence of leaders.
It was important to have a consultative process to legitimate the elected members of the national LMMA board.
Since its creation, MIHARI has always involved the government authorities, at the highest level. It has made the Ministries of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, as well as of Environment, visible, as they were both cited as main partners, host of conferences, etc. MIHARI has also consulted the authorities along processes, such as the formalisation of a reference guide on LMMAs, the first of this kind in the country, to be hopefully eventually integrated in the national law.
Government officials are invited in all major fora and site visits, as sponsors.
Liaise and maintain good relationships with government officials, including Ministers.
Collaboration in the organization of key events, such as the workshop to enhance mud crab fisheries management.
It is very important to meet with government officials on a regular basis, so as to update them on ongoing and planned activities.
The SIMCA Enforcement steering committee meeting that discussed illegal fishing within and outside SIMCA
Reef Guardian/ Achier Chung
The success of enforcement work relies on collaboration from the authorities. The SIMCA Enforcement Steering Committee has been established to reduce illegal fishing activities within the marine protected area. The steering committee included Reef Guardian, Sabah Wildlife Department, Department of Fishery, Marine Police, Malaysia Navy, District Offices, Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency and Eastern Sabah Security Command. The Joint collaborative enforcement activities were conducted regularly to ensure efficiency in handling threats in illegal fishing, wildlife poaching and trafficking, illegal immigrant, and piracy issue within and outside of the marine protected area.
Close relationship with stakeholders
Persistency of partners to take action
Clear marine threats information for the authorities to plan for their actions
Effective enforcement needs collaboration from stakeholders from information gathering, consistence patrolling, effective detection and detention for court prosecution and crime conviction.
In the radar control room, Reef Guardian staff monitor potential boat intrusion to SIMCA.
Reef Guardian
Blast detector in the reef to record number of fishing blast over period of time
Reef Guardian/ Achier Chung
Investment in a radar tracking system for broader monitoring of the area. The radar tracking system is real-time monitoring speed, and directional heading of the boat in the marine protected area's vicinity. The radar information can infer the type of activity of the boat is likely to be engaged in the sea. For example, a fish trawler boat that is trawling tends to move at a slower speed of 7-10 kph than a passing trawler that usually travels at a speed of 16 – 20 kph. Furthermore, five blast detectors were installed to monitor and analyse blast fishing activities within SIMCA. The blast detector's information enables the Reef Guardian enforcement team to do strategic sea patrol to increase enforcement presence in the hot spot where illegal fish bombing often occurred.
Investment from a partner organization (Conservation International Philippine) on a radar tracking system in 2009.
Joint partnership with Reef Defender from Hong Kong since 2014 in the mission to reduce fish bombing in the region.
Information from the radar reduces operational cost (boat fuel) where the team show enforcement presence on the hot spot areas, instead of patrolling the entire marine protected area.
Radar information is best for night enforcement activities. The information giving a higher chance to intercept illegal fishing activities on the spot which lead to higher success on detection and detention rates.
