2021 年 12 巻 2 号 p. 34-40
The fisheries policy reforms on co-management in Cambodia have been implemented for almost two decades, starting its first reform in 2000 and its second reform in 2012. These reforms had promoted the organization of 516 Community Fisheries (CFis) around the country. After two decades of the CFis operation, it is noteworthy to identify the driving factors that brought the functionality and effective operation of the CFi on comanagement of the fisheries resources in Cambodia. The study aims to identify the different driving factors that led to the functionality and effective operation of the CFis comanagement of the fisheries resources development and sustainability resulting in the improvement of food security and socio-economic status of the CFi members. To identify those factors, the study purposely selected 16 CFis among the 516 CFis and randomly interviewed 527 CFi members from these CFis. To support the quantitative information from the interviews, the study conducted 16 Focus Group Discussion (FGD) in the 16 selected CFis for validation and qualitative information. The results show that there are two key main factors influencing the functionality and effective operation of the CFis. First, according to 96% of the CFis members respondents and all FGDs respond, the legal framework that supports the process of CFi establishment and co-management of the fisheries resources have given them the legal rights and opportunity to use and sustain the fisheries resources. The legal frameworks supporting the CFis establishment includes the Royal Decree on the Establishment of CFi, the Sub-decree on CFi Management, and the amendments of Fisheries Law immediately after the reforms and the declaration on CFi Guideline. The second factor according to 93% of the total respondents and all 16 FGDs is the benefit of being a member of the CFi. Being a CFi member and small-scale fisher, they were given more access to the fishing ground, harvesting more fish for consumption and income that improve their socioeconomic status, recognition of their value in participating in a co-management concept of governance, capacity building and working together as one and trusting each other. Aside from these influencing factors, challenges and lessons learnt were also documented for a brighter future of CFi co-management. These include the actions on the amendment of CFi legal framework particularly on the CFi economic creation and financial support for a functional and effective CFi co-management. This should include the expansion of CFi rights and roles on economic activities and benefits of being CFi member, which needs to be clearly defined in the Fisheries Law and CFi sub-decree amendment followed by the development of the CFi Guideline. The government, development partners and the private sector should financially and technically support the CFis to function and operate effectively in comanaging the fisheries resources development and sustainability.
