Welcome and overview

Community-based approaches to fisheries management have been shown to be effective when communities have secure tenure over their marine resources, management rules are locally appropriate and enforced by community members, regular monitoring tracks the impact of management measures, and benefits flow to the community to incentivise continued conservation. Key Concepts: 1. Participatory Governance — Decisions about fisheries management are made collectively by community members, ensuring buy-in and compliance. 2. Adaptive Management — Regular monitoring allows management rules to be updated based on evidence of what's working. 3. Secure Tenure — Communities need formal or customary rights to their marine areas to invest in long-term management. 4. Local Champions — Effective CBFM relies on community leaders who champion conservation and mobilise their peers. As you progress through this course, you will build on each lesson to develop a comprehensive understanding that you can apply directly in your community context. Take notes in the section below and complete the activities to reinforce your learning.