Coral Reefs: Artisanal Fisheries and Community-based Management

The nations that make up East Asia incorporate an extensive coastline, and therefore the reliance on marine resources is traditionally high in many regions. While economic development has led to increased livelihood diversification and more commercial fishing, large areas remain heavily reliant on nearshore artisanal fisheries, often to satisfy subsistence lifestyles. The most widespread examples of this are nearshore fisheries surrounding coral reefs, which are found throughout Southeast Asia in particular. When the direct impacts of heavy reliance on these fisheries are combined with ecosystem deterioration and an ever expanding human population, reefassociated fisheries become a global conservation and management priority. This chapter will focus on the status of reef fisheries in Southeast Asia due to their well-recognised status as a priority for fisheries management throughout the region. The following will attempt to summarise the current status of reef fisheries in Southeast Asia as well as levels of reliance on them, before discussing the management options in effect there.