Enhancing the Stewardship in Trat Bay, Eastern Thailand: A Transdisciplinary Exercise

Small-scale fisheries often exist among other activities, such as large-scale fisheries, urban development, tourism industry, and transportation that may be competing for resources and/or for space. To a varying degree, and depending on the practices, all of these activities affect the health of ecosystems and contribute to degradation of the environment. This is particularly problematic in ecologically important and biologically sensitive areas. Governance of the multiple-use system is challenging because of the complexity of the problem and the general lack of data to determine the levels of impacts. Further, sectors may disagree about what causes degradation and will likely support interventions that have the least consequences on their activities. Sectors that are not well organized and have little political influence or economic power are prone to being disadvantaged by decisions that inhibit their opportunity for viable livelihoods. Small-scale fisheries frequently fall into this category, despite the fact that impacts from their practices may be less than other sectors. Importantly, insufficient consideration is given to the social and cultural connectivity that small-scale fisheries have to their surroundings and the importance of such connectivity on conservation and stewardship. A holistic perspective and innovative thinking are required to level the playing field for all sectors and stakeholders and to encourage collaboration and synergies. The chapter presents a case study of Trat Bay in the east coast of Thailand as an exercise in transdisciplinarity to enhance interactions and discuss stewardship options in the area.