About the Essential EAFM training course

What is the Essential EAFM training course?

The Essential Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management training course is a comprehensive, five-day course designed to provide basic knowledge on the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management and to equip participants with the practical skills to develop effective fisheries management plans using this approach. All course materials are available free of charge and any institution (or individual) is welcome to utilize them either by offering the course to staff and students or through self-study.

How will the Essential EAFM training course benefit my institution or staff?

The Essential EAFM course focuses on the development of professional planning, analytical and interpersonal skills needed for better structured and more informed decision-making. Essential EAFM training should help institutions and their staff to prepare and implement improved fisheries management plans that are more ecologically sound and account for human needs while promoting good governance.

Specifically, Essential EAFM will:

• build capacity and understanding of ecosystem approaches
• empower local fishery units to develop realistic fishery management plans that work in complex local situations
• put effective participatory processes and stakeholder engagement at the heart of fisheries planning
• create understanding of co-management
• foster cross-sector coordination
• balance diverse interests and reduce user group conflicts
• help unlock financial resources
• build communication and facilitation skills

Who is the Essential EAFM course suitable for?

This Essential EAFM course targets mid-level managers and staff working with fisheries, environment, economic development and planning departments who are responsible for administering or managing fisheries and the associated marine environment. The course is equally suitable for junior-level staff or students at fisheries research institutes and colleges.

What fisheries can the EAFM course be applied to?

The Essential EAFM course can be applied to any fisheries system. Teaching material focuses on Asian coastal marine capture fisheries, however by changing the focus and examples, it could equally be applied to inland or offshore fisheries as well as aquaculture. The principles and the approach to management planning are the same.

Who should deliver the course?

The Essential EAFM course would ideally be delivered by institutions or departments involved in capacity development. This could include government agencies, fisheries colleges and universities as well as environmental bodies or non-governmental organizations.

How is the course taught?

Essential EAFM is designed to be taught in a highly interactive manner, featuring numerous activities to fully engage participants. By the end of the course trainees will have a firm understanding of how and why EAFM can be used to sustainably manage fisheries. They will also have hands-on experience of the steps needed to develop an EAFM plan.

What course materials are available?

A complete set of Essential EAFM course materials has been developed and is available free of charge. These include learning modules, presentations, tools to be used at different stages in the EAFM process, a resource guide, handbook, session plans and workbooks. Course materials are available here.

Who was the course developed by?

Essential EAFM is the result of a unique partnership involving a number of regional organizations namely: the UN-FAO Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem (BOBLME) Project, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the Norwegian Agency for International Development (NORAD) and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA); the US Coral Triangle Initiative (USCTI) funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Coral Triangle Support Partnership (CTSP); as well as the Asia-Pacific Fishery Commission (APFIC). More information about the development of the course can be found here.