IV. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
[ IV-A
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A. Conclusions
[ A-1
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2. The inshore fishery
The real issue highlighted by this case study is the importance of bringing the resource users into the assessment, monitoring, and decision making process.
As in other Pacific Island countries, subsistence fisheries account for a much greater catch than do commercial fisheries, about 4600 tonnes (King, 1990) compared to 1100 tonnes for the commercial catch (Fisheries Division Annual Report; 1993/94).
Pacific Islands governments need to acknowledge the role that communities already play in the management of food fisheries and devolve some of the formal responsibility back to the community level. They must also improve linkages with communities and supplement and support community capabilities. Government can also play an important role in facilitating communication and experience-sharing between communities (Adams 1996).
"There must be a careful consideration of all the options and, above all, strong dialogue and feedback between all participants. However, it is clear that more emphasis on socially-appropriate fisheries governance systems is very desirable, and probably long overdue in most countries, and this is an area which the Pacific Islands region can perhaps hope to help illuminate for the benefit of the rest of the world. And not only the rest of the world, but also for certain governments and community leaders within the region itself (Adams 1996).
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