Oceans’ co-management

Catalonia has devised a unique participatory governance scheme that places people and nature at the core of decision-making and devolves power to stakeholders. Based on pilot implementations, the first legal framework ever established for fisheries co-management was adopted in 2018. It ensures that fishers, managers, scientists and NGOs participate on equal footing in decision-making. The new scheme brings hope and self-esteem amidst a pervasive trend of overfishing and environmental and social crisis in the Mediterranean coastal communities. It spills now over the entire fisheries sector and beyond: from all human uses of the sea in a specific area to the governance of the 2030 Maritime Strategy of Catalonia. Co-management brings out the best of people and builds a culture of consensus and trust. A proven replicable solution adaptable to different scopes and geographical areas.