Fishers-based watershed management in Lake Saroma, Japan

This article delineates an evolutionary perspective of fishers-based watershed management from the viewpoint of sustainable fish production in lagoon fisheries. A case study of Lake Saroma, Japan is presented showcasing the innovative efforts of fishers on the wise use of fishery resources and mainstreaming environmental conservation at the watershed level. Innovative efforts include the introduction of cultured scallop allowance limits, fishers’ aforestation activities and multi-level collaborative partnership building. The study highlights a wider realization of lagoon fisheries management at multiple scales, where the role of the coordinator is key in sharing the concept of integrated lagoon fisheries management among relevant stakeholders. Based on the Lake Saroma experience, this article contributes to the development of nested collaborative partnerships among stakeholders toward fishers-based integrated lagoon fisheries management.

► This study delineates an evolutionary perspective of fishers-based watershed management.
► A wider realization of lagoon fisheries management at multiple scales.
► The role of a coordinator to share a concept of integrated fisheries management.
► Collaborative partnership through fisheries organizations with scientific knowledge.