Themes
Community based fisheries co-management: Beach Management Units
| Community-based Beach Management Units form the foundation of fisheries co-management and enable all fisheries stakeholder groups to influence decision-making. BMUs provide a vehicle for improved fisheries governance and poverty-focused and gender sensitive planning. They also provide an entry point to the fisheries communities to facilitate a range of development interventions, as well as contribute to fisheries management. |
What is a Beach Management Unit?
A BMU is a legally empowered community-based organisation formed for communities to manage fisheries resources with local and central government. The Fish (Beach Management) Rules, Statutory Instrument Number 35, July 2003, provides the basis for the existence of BMUs in Uganda, requiring BMUs to be formed at all gazetted landing sites. All fisheries stakeholders must register with a BMU to legally operate. Each BMU has a committee and an assembly that includes all registered members of the BMU.
The BMU Committee
The 'Guidelines for Beach Management Units', issued by the Government of Uganda, set out requirements for who should be elected onto a BMU Committee. The purpose of the guidelines for the committee is to ensure that all stakeholder groups, especially women and boat crew are fairly represented. These stakeholder groups were marginalized in fisheries management institutions before the formation of BMUs and lacked access to decision-making.
The stakeholder membership of BMU committees, ranging in size from 9-15 persons, must be:
- 30% fishing crew (i.e. individuals not owning a fishing boat)
- 30% boat owners
- 30% others (as defined in the Statutory Instrument, including fish processors, boat makers, local gear makers and repairers, etc.)
- 10% fishmongers
In addition, 30% of these members must be women, wherever possible.
What is needed for the formation of Beach Management Units?
The following components were essential for the formation of effective BMUs:
- Inclusion of all fisheries stakeholders
- Legal mandate
- Guidelines for Beach Management Units
- Awareness raising of fisheries communities and local government
- Election of BMU Committee
- Financing
Capacity building of BMU members is essential so that they understand their rights and responsibilities to enable the BMU to function effectively. ILM supported the Department of Fisheries in developing and rolling out the following BMU training courses, with local government staff:
- Orientation of BMU members
- Book-keeping and accounting
- Fisheries management
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