<DIV> <FONT size=1 face="Gill Sans MT"><FONT size=1 face="Gill Sans MT"><FONT size=5>Andrew, N., K.S. Pheng, M. Philips (2011). Fisheries Dependence in Timor-Leste: A</FONT></DIV><DIV>
<P><FONT size=5>Scoping Study. Coral Triangle Support Partnership. 27 pp. </P>
<DIV><A href="http://www.coraltriangleinitiative.org/sites/default/files/resources/CTSP_ManagingFisheriesDependence_TL_Sept2011.pdf">http://www.coraltriangleinitiative.org/sites/default/files/resources/CTSP_ManagingFisheriesDependence_TL_Sept2011.pdf</A> </DIV></FONT></FONT></FONT>
<DIV> </DIV><DIV><B><FONT size=4 face="Gill Sans MT"><FONT size=4 face="Gill Sans MT">
<P align=left>EXECUTIVE SUMMARY</P></B></FONT></FONT><FONT size=3 face="Gill Sans MT"><FONT size=3 face="Gill Sans MT">
<P align=left>Timor-Leste’s people are chronically food insecure. High dependence on natural resources results in</P>
<P align=left>high vulnerability to the effects of resource over-exploitation, as well as larger forces including</P>
<P align=left>climate change, civil unrest, internal migration of people, and natural disasters. CTSP and WorldFish</P>
<P align=left>Center conducted a scoping mission to Timor-Leste as a first engagement with government</P>
<P align=left>departments in designing investments in planning and livelihood diversification for fishery-dependent</P>
<P align=left>communities through the use of aquaculture. The scoping mission addresses CTSP Indicator 3:</P></FONT></FONT><I><FONT size=3 face="Gill Sans MT"><FONT size=3 face="Gill Sans MT">
<P align=left>“Number of policies, laws, agreements, or regulations promoting sustainable natural resource management</P>
<P align=left>and conservation that are implemented as a result of USG assistance”</I></FONT></FONT><FONT size=3 face="Gill Sans MT"><FONT size=3 face="Gill Sans MT">.</FONT></FONT><FONT size=1 face="Gill Sans MT"><FONT size=1 face="Gill Sans MT">1</P></FONT></FONT><FONT size=3 face="Gill Sans MT"><FONT size=3 face="Gill Sans MT">
<P align=left>The scoping mission aimed to support the government of Timor-Leste to address the issue of</P>
<P align=left>fisheries-dependence and food security. Through an assessment of current situations and conditions,</P>
<P align=left>as well as consultations with stakeholders, the scoping mission proposed a strategy consisting of 1)</P>
<P align=left>capacity development of government staff (training and GIS infrastructure); 2) design and</P>
<P align=left>deployment of field surveys to map fisheries dependence and identify potential aquaculture areas;</P>
<P align=left>and 3) incorporation of survey findings into national Geographic Information Systems (GIS).</P>
<P align=left>The scoping mission also conducted a preliminary assessment of the potential for aquaculture</P>
<P align=left>development as an alternative livelihood in Nino Konis Santana National Park (NKS). Marine</P>
<P align=left>seaweed is the dominant aquaculture in Timor-Leste’s coastal environments, while inland</P>
<P align=left>aquaculture production is dominated by common carp (80 percent) and tilapia (20 percent).</P>
<P align=left>Through consultation with government officials it became clear that marine and freshwater</P>
<P align=left>aquaculture opportunities must be considered to best serve the development aspirations of</P>
<P align=left>Timorese people. The scoping mission established a proposed plan of action for 1) establishing an</P>
<P align=left>aquaculture spatial plan for NKS; and 2) establishing a pilot seaweed aquaculture project.</P>
<P align=left>There are currently no established procedures for aquaculture licensing, site selection, or zoning in</P>
<P align=left>Timor-Leste. There is an urgent need to establish a National Aquaculture Strategy—with related</P>
<P align=left>capacity building, infrastructure development, and outreach activities—that considers complex social</P>
<P align=left>issues in Timor-Leste. Through consultation with in-country stakeholders, the scoping mission</P>
<P align=left>proposes a plan of action for developing a National Aquaculture Strategy.</P></FONT></FONT> </DIV><DIV> </DIV></DIV>--<BR signature="separator">Dr Bu V.E. Wilson<br />T: Australia +61 0 407 087 086<br />T: Timor-Leste + 670 744 0011<br />E: buvewilson@gmail.com