Showcasing the application of ecosystem approach to fisheries management: A case study in Nainang Village, Muang Krabi, Thailand

Abstract

The FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (CCRF) sets the principles and international standards of behavior and practices to ensure effective conservation, management, and development of living aquatic resources, with due respect for the ecosystem and biodiversity (FAO, 1995). As stated in the CCRF, “the purpose of the ecosystem approach to fisheries is to plan, develop, and manage fisheries in a manner that addresses the multiple needs and desires of societies without jeopardizing the options for future generations to benefit from the full range of goods and services provided by marine ecosystems.” While specifically focusing on fisheries, the ecosystem approach to fisheries (EAFM) is concerned with the relationship between fishing activities and the ecosystem as a whole, including the social and economic implications, as well as management requirements. Moreover, it also considers non-target species, endangered species, minimizing waste and pollution, biodiversity, and welfare of coastal communities, small-scale fisheries and subsistence fishers. Overall, EAFM “strives to balance diverse societal objectives, by taking into account the knowledge and uncertainties about biotic and human components of ecosystems and their interactions and applying an integrated approach to fisheries within meaningful boundaries” (FAO, 2003).