[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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