[TimorLesteStudies] Paper: Fisheries Dependence in TImor-Leste

Bu Wilson bu.wilson at anu.edu.au
Mon Dec 19 13:00:59 EST 2011


 Andrew, N., K.S. Pheng, M. Philips (2011). Fisheries Dependence in Timor-Leste: A


Scoping Study. Coral Triangle Support Partnership. 27 pp. 

http://www.coraltriangleinitiative.org/sites/default/files/resources/CTSP_ManagingFisheriesDependence_TL_Sept2011.pdf 

 


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY


Timor-Leste’s people are chronically food insecure. High dependence on natural resources results in


high vulnerability to the effects of resource over-exploitation, as well as larger forces including


climate change, civil unrest, internal migration of people, and natural disasters. CTSP and WorldFish


Center conducted a scoping mission to Timor-Leste as a first engagement with government


departments in designing investments in planning and livelihood diversification for fishery-dependent


communities through the use of aquaculture. The scoping mission addresses CTSP Indicator 3:


“Number of policies, laws, agreements, or regulations promoting sustainable natural resource management


and conservation that are implemented as a result of USG assistance”.1


The scoping mission aimed to support the government of Timor-Leste to address the issue of


fisheries-dependence and food security. Through an assessment of current situations and conditions,


as well as consultations with stakeholders, the scoping mission proposed a strategy consisting of 1)


capacity development of government staff (training and GIS infrastructure); 2) design and


deployment of field surveys to map fisheries dependence and identify potential aquaculture areas;


and 3) incorporation of survey findings into national Geographic Information Systems (GIS).


The scoping mission also conducted a preliminary assessment of the potential for aquaculture


development as an alternative livelihood in Nino Konis Santana National Park (NKS). Marine


seaweed is the dominant aquaculture in Timor-Leste’s coastal environments, while inland


aquaculture production is dominated by common carp (80 percent) and tilapia (20 percent).


Through consultation with government officials it became clear that marine and freshwater


aquaculture opportunities must be considered to best serve the development aspirations of


Timorese people. The scoping mission established a proposed plan of action for 1) establishing an


aquaculture spatial plan for NKS; and 2) establishing a pilot seaweed aquaculture project.


There are currently no established procedures for aquaculture licensing, site selection, or zoning in


Timor-Leste. There is an urgent need to establish a National Aquaculture Strategy—with related


capacity building, infrastructure development, and outreach activities—that considers complex social


issues in Timor-Leste. Through consultation with in-country stakeholders, the scoping mission


proposes a plan of action for developing a National Aquaculture Strategy.
 
 

--
Dr Bu V.E. Wilson
T: Australia +61 0 407 087 086
T: Timor-Leste + 670 744 0011
E: buvewilson at gmail.com
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