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Description
This proposal follows on from the Co-Pesca 1 project which, in 2014-15, assessed and identified the most qualified fisheries to enter into the co-management process in the Peniche-Nazaré axis. The project developed a pre-assessment model to assess the potential and feasibility of implementing marine resource co-management schemes and their replication in other axes of the national territory. This project identified 2 fisheries with the greatest potential for implementation, the harvesting of barnacles from the Berlengas Nature Reserve (whose co-management committee is expected to be formalized by the end of the year), and now the conditions are created to move forward with the participatory process for the Obidos Lagoon.
The Óbidos Lagoon Co-Management project is a continuation of the work that was carried out at the time, thus aiming at the necessary training of fishermen for the successful implementation of co-management in this area.
At the end of the project, it is expected to have a group of fishermen with the necessary skills to start the implementation of a Co-Management Committee.
To achieve its goals, the project will develop a participatory process with resources for interviews, workshops and events that encourage discussion and sharing of experiences.
The project will directly benefit fishermen and entrepreneurs operating in Lagoa de Óbidos.
ANP has extensive experience in the development of these processes, and currently has two ongoing co-management implementation processes: Co-management of Percebe das Berlengas and Co-management of Polvo in the Algarve region. The project team will include members who were involved in the development of these projects, specialists in the development of fisheries co-management processes.
In the end, it is expected to lay the foundations for the implementation of a co-management committee in Lagoa de Óbidos, and that the fishermen gather the necessary skills to integrate and lead this process.
Summary of project results
Fisheries co-management is a new paradigm in marine resource management: it focuses on the sustainable
management of both fisheries and resources, with a science-based approach complemented by empirical knowledge.
Moreover, it implies collaborative work and the development of collective knowledge, allowing to gather the interests
of each sector, and to share power and responsibility over the way fisheries operate. It requires the involvement of a
wide range of stakeholders relevant for defining the decision-making process (fishermen, civil society, scientists,
authorities, etc.)
The ‘Co-Pesca da Lagoa de Óbidos’ project builds on a previous project, Co-Pesca 1, which evaluated and identified
fisheries suitable for the implementation of marine resource co-management, namely bivalve harvesting in Lagoa de
Óbidos. ‘Co-Pesca da Lagoa de Óbidos’ aimed to equip fishermen with the skills needed to implement
co-management in this area. By the end of the project, it was expected that a group of fishermen would be prepared
to start a co-management process.
Initially, the team conducted desktop research to identify and map stakeholders. Then, the project team organized a
full-day field trip with an ICNF technician and conducted 10 semi-structured interviews using the snowball method. A
preliminary diagnosis was developed after analyzing the interviews and interactions.
The project''s Launch Event presented the diagnosis to the community and gathered information for structuring the
project, addressing management, knowledge, and governance issues. Subsequently, three capacity-building
workshops were held with different stakeholders, including fishermen, companies, authorities, scientists, and NGOs,
covering topics identified as crucial during the interviews and the Launch Event.
The Final Event presented the project''s main results from the various phases, from the interviews to the workshops.
Throughout the project, 60 stakeholders were consulted and a total of 58 stakeholders, representing more than 15
organisations, took part in the events and workshops.
The project demonstrated the potential for creating a dialogue space among stakeholders with diverse interests to
jointly debate common issues and seek community solutions. While a consensus on the co-management model for
Lagoa de Óbidos was not reached, the community acknowledged the benefits of collaborative work. It was also
recognized that Lagoa de Óbidos should be managed holistically.