Conventional fisheries management has largely failed to ensure sustainable fishery systems and livelihoods for the millions of people dependent on SSF in the developing world. Management at inappropriate scales, inappropriate property rights, inability to control fishing capacity, poor governance and other factors have conspired to block these fisheries from achieving their potential. Classically, management has concentrated on the fishery itself, even though this may present relatively weak levers for change. Improving the management of these fisheries requires a radical rethink of established theory, approaches and definitions of sustainability, as well as of indicators of management performance.

A new conceptualization of sustainability in fisheries is emerging from much broader developments in natural resource management. In its modern form, “resilience” has become a powerful reference for sustainable development, but advances in theory have yet to be translated into more resilient aquatic ecosystems or better lives for poor fisherfolk in developing countries. The challenge to utilizing resilience theory to manage and govern SSF is an important frontier for development science, as more than half the world’s wild-caught fish are from SSF, and most fishers live in developing countries. As complex systems, these fisheries exemplify the dynamic and unpredictable interdependencies of people and nature. Fisherfolk in SSF are vulnerable to the compounding effects of stresses within fishery systems as well as to ecological and social forces outside their domain of influence. Building adaptive capacity in ecosystems and people is central to realizing the conservation and social and economic potential of SSF.

The purpose of this project is to develop concepts, methods and sustainability indicators that will catalyze a fundamental change in SSF management in the developing world. To achieve this, the project will focus on three key areas. First, we will test and refine methods for integrated assessment of SSF. Second, we will build on these assessment tools to test and learn lessons from a range of alternative management interventions in a range of social and ecological settings. Third, we will develop and test a range of livelihood diversification options that can be used to reduce dependence on SSF in those cases where this is required to reduce vulnerability and strengthen resilience.