Abstract

The top-down centralized management has failed to provide equitable access to fishing and unfair distribution of benefits towards the poor fishing community in Asia. Community-based management and co-management of fisheries have been implemented in several countries in Asia over the decades. Management models have been developed based on the partnership between governmental organizations (GO), NGOs and fishing communities.

This paper discusses the different approaches of the community-based models and how the local community-based institutions have participated for better management of fisheries resources.

The paper also discusses the role of partner organizations and fishing communities for effective community-based management of fisheries in Asia. The paper discusses the policy issues of regulatory framework and governance of fisheries in Malaysia. The paper concludes that inequitable access to fisheries, restricted fishing activities are the major policy issues that need to be considered for successful community-based management in Malaysia.