REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
 WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
Developing a Mechanism for Integrated Fisheries and Habitat Management: the Refugia Concept
vThe RWG-F recommended that any mechanism developed should:
§Focus on maximising the benefit-cost ratio of actions for fishing communities;
§Promote sustainable use rather than prohibition of fishing;
§Focus on fish life-cycle and critical habitat linkages; and be
§Relevant at the fishery level, i.e., should be easily understood by fishing communities, local government officials, and provincial level fisheries managers
vFisheries Refugia as defined by the RWG-F are “spatially and geographically defined, marine or coastal areas in which specific management measures are applied to sustain important species [fisheries resources] during critical stages of their life-cycle, for their sustainable use”.