3.3 Developing the resource management plan and monitoring

This section explains how to combine the specific resource management measures and measures to strengthen the sustainability of resource management described in Sections 3.1 and 3.2, according to the situation and needs on the ground, and how to develop a comprehensive resource management plan, write it up, and share it with stakeholders. The advantages of sharing a written resource management plan with stakeholders are that it (1) codifies and clarifies the results of stakeholder consensus, (2) provides a guide for the planned implementation of management measures, and (3) can be used to monitor the implementation of management measures and to periodically revise the plan.

There are several methods to document a resource management plan. One is to document a framework (resource management plan) to implement comprehensive fisheries resource management activities (including both resource management measures and measures to strengthen the sustainability of resource management) for each type of target fishery resource. The second method is to write a framework (resource management plan) to implement resource management activities that address all identified challenges in the target locality. The former method has the advantage of being able to organise the framework relatively easily but has the disadvantage of not having a locality-wide perspective, while the latter has the advantage of being considering the entire region but the disadvantage of making the resource management plan framework more complex and difficult to organise and understand. If a number of challenges are identified in the target area, it is possible to develop a resource management plan for each challenge or to develop a resource management plan for each target resource and integrate them considering local conditions. In any case, the most appropriate method for addressing the identified challenges can be chosen.

In the following description of this guideline, to simplify the explanation and facilitate understanding, the Octopus Resource Management Plan (tentative) is described as being developed with reference to the sea cucumber resource management activities on the Petite-Côte. This section illustrates how a resource management plan can be developed by combining several resource management measures to enhance the sustainability of resource management and describes the flow of activities from planning to implementation and monitoring. The Octopus Resource Management Plan (tentative) presented here is only an imaginary plan to explain the flow of activities in the guidelines.

Case study: Draft an Octopus Resource Management Plan (tentative)

1. Challenge

Many coastal villages in Senegal are involved in octopus fishing. However, in recent years, the catches and size of the octopus caught have decreased.

2. Information for the development of the resource management plan

⚫︎ Experimental knowledge of fishermen: The octopus spawning season in Senegal is September to October.

⚫︎ Results of participatory research: A peak in gonadal maturity index (GMI) was observed in September.

⚫︎ Scientific results: Female octopus produce 120,000 to 400,000 eggs per individual. Therefore, protection of the parent octopus is important for stock management.

⚫︎ Other results: Trawlers owned by a fishing company destroy the seabed in coastal waters, which is a spawning ground for the octopus.

3. Policies for resource management planning

Based on the challenges and information above for the development of the resource management plan, it is important to protect the breeding individuals of octopuses and preserve the environment of the spawning grounds to restore octopus resources. For this purpose, a closed season will be established and octopus pots will be installed for spawning to improve the environment of spawning grounds that have been devastated by trawling. Moreover, to reduce the negative impact of the closed season on the family management of fishermen, a resource management plan will be developed which includes activities to increase the added value of octopuses by improving post-landing processing and increasing the profit margin through joint shipping.

4. Contents of the Octopus Resource Management Plan (tentative)

⚫︎ Objectives
⚪︎To ensure sustainable utilization of the octopus resource and stabilization of fishermen’s management.

⚫︎ Target area
⚪︎ Petite-Côte area where octopus fishing activities are conducted

⚫︎ Target people and organisations
⚪︎ 3 CLPAs: CLPA Joal, CLPA Sindia, and CLPA Mbour and fishermen that catch octopus

⚫︎ Target species
⚪︎ Octopus

⚫︎ Method
⚪︎ Establishment of a closed season for octopus fishing
⚪︎ Installation of octopus pots for spawning
⚪︎ Increased value-added by improving post-landing processing
⚪︎Improvement of profit margin by introducing joint shipping

5. Action plan

Results of the implementation of resource management activities

  • 1) Recruitment of new stocks of octopus is promoted
  • 2) Profitability of fishermen catching octopus are maintained

Activities to achieve the results

  • 1)-1 Establish a closed season for fishing
    • Conduct awareness-raising activities to disseminate knowledge and information on the establishment of the closure period for CLPA members.
    • Hold meetings with representatives of the CLPAs to discuss and seek consensus on the establishment of a closed season for octopus fishing in a wider area.
    • Promote the adoption of a decree with provisions for sanctions for fishermen who do not respect the rules
    • Set and implement a closure period
    • Monitoring the progress of the implementation of the closure period and sharing the results with stakeholders
  • 1)-2 Install octopus pots to improve the spawning environment
    • Conduct awareness-raising activities to disseminate knowledge and information on the current state of spawning grounds and environmental improvements to CLPA members.
    • Hold meetings with representatives of the CLPAs to discuss and seek consensus on the installation of octopus spawning pots in a wider area.
    • Manufacture and install octopus pots for spawning.
    • Monitor the progress of the installation of octopus pots and share the results with stakeholders.
  • 2)-1 Increase the added value by improving post-landing processing
    • Provide fishermen with information on how to handle octopuses on board, hygiene, and quality control and conduct the necessary awareness-raising activities.
    • Introduce and fully implement a method of keeping octopuses fresh by placing them in plastic bags, storing them in prepared coolers, and discontinuing the practice of beating them on board to weaken them.
    • Negotiate with fishing companies that buy and export octopus to purchase improved quality at a higher price than conventional quality octopus.
  • 2)-2 Improve the profit margin on the sale of octopus through a joint shipping
    • Discuss the possibilities and implementation of the joint shipping project within fisheries resource management organisations.
    • Deepen understanding of the status of distribution of fishery products, such as octopuses, and discuss with existing traders of fishery products to seek their understanding and cooperation in the joint shipping operations of fishermen.
    • Hold discussions with fishing companies that buy fishery products to seek their understanding and cooperation in the joint shipping operations of fishermen.
    • Develop and implement an activity plan for the joint shipping.
    • Keep clear accounts of income and expenditure and report regularly to the fisheries resource management organisation through the implementation group.

Person and group in charge

Within the resource management organisation, groups for the implementation of the closed season for octopus fishing, the manufacture and installation of octopus pots for spawning, improving post-landing processing, and joint shipping will be formed and a leader of each group will be decided by the members in a participatory manner.

6. Implementation of the activities

(1) Set targets for the implementation of the resource management plan and indicators of achievement
Initially, the indicators should not be too ambitious and should instead be realistic and relatively easy to achieve. It is important for participants to share and accumulate small successes, which allows members of the group or organisation to share a sense of solidarity and gain a sense of joy and achievement from their activities.

(2) Continue publicity and raise awareness of resource management plans.
The resource management organisation, with the help of responsible administrations and donors, publicises the activities of the resource management plan by producing signs, posters, and leaflets describing these activities. The monitoring staff record the progress of the activities, explain the rules, and conduct awareness-raising activities to those who repeatedly break the rules to help them understand the consequences.

(3) Regularly monitor the progress of implementing a resource management plan.
The resource management organisation decides on the date of implementation of the resource management rules, such as setting a closed season, in collaboration with representatives of the target community, and prepares signs, posters, and leaflets to explain the rules. The Directorate of Fisheries, local government officials, and relevant ministries are invited to a ceremony to implement resource management rules in the target community.
Monitoring staff checks and records compliance with resource management rules. Offenders should be brought to the attention of the community or subgroup to which they belong and the application of predetermined sanctions should be considered. It is important that the resource management organisation notifies offenders of the application of sanctions with clear justification.

(4) Review the resource management plan approximately a year after implementation and revise it if there are problems.
Approximately six months to a year after the implementation of the resource management rules, a survey is conducted on the evolution of the fisheries situation and the awareness of the inhabitants of the activities through questionnaires and interviews. The results of the survey will be compiled and the results of the activities will be analysed. The resource management organisation will gather community members and representatives of each group to hold a workshop, share the results of the survey, report on the number and status of offenders through regular monitoring, and listen to their views on complaints and possible changes to the resource management plan. At the workshop, efforts should be made to ensure that the views are those of all participating groups and not just their representatives. Based on the results of the survey and opinions expressed at the workshop, the rules and timetable of activities will be reviewed and the resource management plan will revised as necessary.

(5) Encourage the adoption of the resource management plan as law.
The resource management organisation will make the revised resource management plan known to the Directorate of Fisheries and other relevant organisations and get it reflected in the national or local government’s development plan. The national or local government will assist in transforming the rules related to the revised resource management plan into departmental or national law. The relevant administrations will also prepare a legal framework to enable the resource management organisation to justify the application of sanctions to offenders.