There is a need for rapid and substantial evolution of existing fisheries management systems in developing countries to support sustainable resource use. It is unlikely that local communities can accomplish this change on their own. But neither can the national government accomplish it entirely through bureaucratic instruments. There must evolve a more dynamic partnership using the capacities and interests of the local community, complemented by the ability of the national government to provide enabling legislation and institutions and other assistance. This partnership can be called co-management, where the national government and the community share authority for fisheries management.
This strategy features in the framework of Agenda 21 as formulated at UNCED (Rio de Janeiro, 1992), now coordinated by the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development and implemented through national and local authorities. Agenda 21 recommends developing financial and technical cooperation to enhance the capacities of developing countries in small-scale and oceanic fisheries, as well as in coastal aquaculture and mariculture.
The South Pacific Commission's (SPC) Coastal Fisheries Programme (CFP) provides support to the development and rationale management of domestic inshore and coastal fisheries of Pacific Island member nations. This includes technical advice, field assistance, training and information, in the following sections: capture; post-harvest; fisheries training; resource assessment; information. The capture section, for instance, makes available the services of professional Master fishermen, and introduces new and improved fishing methods and equipment, and developing domestic off-shore fishing capability such as tuna fishery development.