Water resources policy and administrative management

This project is aiming at building capacity of Okrasa CFi committee to make use and sustainable manages of 414.61ha of Community fishing areas. Project also provides support to the committee to protect 350 ha of sea grass and to protect 46 ha of existing mangrove forest inside Okrasa Community Fishing ground. In order to increase fish productivity and reducing illegal fishing activities inside the sea grass bed, community plan to establish 120 ha of sea grass conservation areas. In order to reduce pressure on the fisheries resources and to promote women participation and increased income of community, project provides support to create 2 saving groups and one crab bank to create more option for their livelihood. Oh Krasar Community Fisheries is located in Oh Krasar commune, Damnak Chang-oeu district, Kep province. Hundreds hectares of seagrass beds and 46.41 hectare mangroves including the marine fish resources play an important role in supporting daily livelihood of the community fisheries members. Overall, members of the community fisheries and of people living in nearby communities are said to benefit from the resources to support their daily life. The resources play an important role for their livelihood and contribute to their increased income and thus attention is needed for their more effective management and protection. Report by provincial fisheries cantonment revealed that 216 households engaged mainly in fishing for swimming crabs and for fish using various gears including traps, gill nets, hand push nets, hooks and lines, cash nets, and even catch crabs by hand. There are 50 rowing boats, 80 long bow boats, being used in fishing. For some household members, fishing by hand and with small gears, farming, and petty businesses are their supplemental activities. The project on protection and conservation of coastal fisheries resources to promote livelihood of community fisheries is proposed to manage and conserve coastal resources and to promote local livelihood and this the project substantially responds to government s reform policy for the fisheries sector, particularly for engagement of local community in sustainable coastal fisheries resource management. The project also seeks to diversify livelihood options in order to promote community livelihoods and to reduce pressure from use of coastal fisheries resources. The action plan proposed in the project responds to the community fisheries area management plan developed by the community with the support from the fisheries administration. It also received endorsement and was approved by local authorities as it supports actions in the regional strategic plan for seagrass resource conservation under the project on Reversing Environmental Degradation Trends in the South China Seas and Gulf of Thailand (UNEP/GEF-SCS) that was concluded recently. The project also contributes to achieving 10 year strategic planning framework of the fisheries administration on the protection and conservation of seagrasses with target for conservation and protection of 5,000 hectares for the next 5 years. 1.2 Project objectives To protect and manage coastal fisheries resources, including seagrass, mangroves, and fisheries resources for their sustainable use and to contribute to promoting livelihood of the community. Specific objectives 1.To increase fish catch in the target area through designation and establishment of seagrass and mangrove protection area; 2. To improve community participation in protection and conservation of fisheries resources and to reduce pressure on fisheries resources through additional livelihood options; and 3. To increase income of 50 households from the community fisheries through increased catch of swimming crab from 4,000 to 4,800 kg. 1.3 Key expected outputs - 414.91 ha community fisheries area sustainably managed and the existing 46.41 ha mangrove forest is effectively protected; - 120 ha seagreass beds designated and managed as a conservation area; - 100 community fisheries members, local authority, and relevant stakeholders are aware of the project s activities and concepts; - 240 community fisheries members and relevant stakeholders understood the importance of fisheries resources and fisheries related legislation; - Key baseline data on fisheries resources in the community fisheries area are collected and documented for use as guide in project implementation such as illegal fishing practices, fisheries law, and catch including swimming crab and other fish products; - 40 households within the community fisheries accessed additional livelihood activities through skills acquired from trainings including on integrated crop farming, and fiberglass boat production; - 40 households within the community fisheries expanded their businesses through their participation in saving groups and made use of skills they obtained; and - 1 crab bank with 25 memberships established, with management committee and by-law organized and developed to guide their operation including a loan scheme developed and recognized by commune council. 1.4 Key project activities To achieve the expected outputs above the following activities will be implemented: - Convening for meetings with community fisheries, local authorities and relevant stakeholders to raise their understandings of the project concept and activities to achieve the expected outputs; - Producing project billboards to raise public awareness among community and relevant stakeholders; - Disseminati

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