Perspective of Fishers Organizations Integrated to Coastal Fisheries Management: Through Experiences Gained in Thailand

Abstract

The purpose of the discussion which follows is to clarify the roles of fishers organizations in coastal fisheries management. Even if there is much disagreement over the appraisal of fishers organizations, whatever the type of intermediary organizations will be expected to entail sharing-responsibility between government and fishers. A cooperative system is applicable to comanagement and community-based management regimes. Cooperative movement in Thai fisheries has not yet been mature enough to expand their activities into fisheries management. Nowadays, however, much effort has been made to create a new framework of promotion policy for fishers organizations by the Thai government. Experiences gained in Thailand will give a profound insight into a direction of fishers organization in sustainable fisheries management.