Key Considerations for Fishery Improvement Projects

Abstract:

The value of FIPs is their ability to engage market players in the journey towards sustainability and this ability can be enhanced if they engage with any existing, government established processes that have the same aims. It needs to be acknowledged that FIPs are neither unique in terms of consultation mechanisms in fisheries nor the main instrument for making progress on fisheries management. This in no means diminishes their value which can be enhanced by making connections to similar concepts such as comanagement, which is widely recognized as being a useful tool for engaging and consulting stakeholders. The aim of this document is to assist those involved in fishery improvement projects and related dialogue platforms by providing information that sets out the circumstance under which a FIP may be most likely to succeed. It makes use of a mix of lessons learned from the GMC project implementation teams and wider reviews of FIP implementation experiences from around the world.