Conservation and commerce: Managing small-scale fisheries for ecological and livelihood benefits
A case study from Manus Province, Papua New Guinea examines efforts to support Indigenous Peoples and local communities in sustainably managing and marketing beche‑de‑mer. Although the initiative initially succeeded—implementing management beyond national requirements and achieving certified exports—its long‑term viability was challenged by rapidly shifting governance, market, cultural and social dynamics. The findings highlight the difficulty of achieving both conservation and livelihood goals in resource systems under intense economic pressure.
Subject Tags
- Indigenous Peoples
- Policy, Finance, and Markets
- Fisheries
Abstract
Delivering both social and ecological outcomes is regarded as essential for conservation actions to be effective, particularly in regions where Indigenous Peoples (IPs) and local communities (LCs) depend heavily on natural resources. In the Indo-Pacific, sustainable small-scale fisheries are seen as potential win-win solutions. Here, we evaluate the opportunities and challenges of supporting IPs and LCs to sustainably manage and add value to a high-value marine commodity using a case study from the Mwanus Endras Asi Resource Development Network (MEARDN) in Manus Province, Papua New Guinea. Between 2017 and 2018, MEARDN, with support from The Nature Conservancy, implemented management measures exceeding national requirements and exported beche-de-mer that had obtained sustainable certification directly to Hong Kong. While initially successful, this initiative struggled to remain viable amid rapidly shifting governance, market, cultural and social dynamics. Our findings highlight the challenges of delivering conservation and sustainable livelihoods where natural resource systems are subject to intense economic pressures.
Citation
Hamilton, R., Waldie, P., Clark, T., Matawai, M., Thomas, M., Kinch, J., ... & Bode, M. (2025). Conservation and Commerce: Managing Small‐Scale Fisheries for Ecological and Livelihood Benefits. Conservation Letters, 18(6), e70011. https://doi.org/10.1111/con4.70011
TNC Authors
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Richard Hamilton
Senior Conservation & Science Advisor, Asia Pacific
The Nature Conservancy
Email: rhamilton@tnc.org -
Peter Waldie
Solomon Islands Country Director
The Nature Conservancy
Email: peter.waldie@tnc.org -
Tammy Clark
Interim Executive Director, Micronesia and Polynesia
The Nature Conservancy
Email: tclark@tnc.org -
Marine Thomas
Associate Director of Conservation Program, Hong Kong
The Nature Conservancy
Email: marine.thomas@tnc.org