Fishing communities are often repositories of valuable traditional knowledge concerning fish stocks and have a high level of awareness of the marine environment. In addition, many villages have some degree of control, either legal or traditionally assumed, of adjacent waters. Together, these factors provide an ideal basis on which communities can be encouraged and motivated to manage their own marine resources. This manual has been written in response to growing regional interest, from fisheries and environmental agencies as well as non-government organisations, in how to provide this motivation. (1) How can villages be encouraged to manage their own fisheries? (2) What can be done to support village communities in their efforts to conserve fish stocks and protect their marine environment? (3) What particular conservation actions can village communities take? (4) l What can be done by communities and what must be done by governments? This manual is based on the following premise: Regardless of national legislation and enforcement, the responsible management of fisheries resources will only be achieved when fishing communities themselves see it as their responsibility rather than that of the government. This manual is designed to provide some technical background on fisheries and the marine environment, and to be a guide on promoting and encouraging their management by Pacific Island communities. Such management is said to be community based. The community-based methods presented in this manual are not the only ones possible, and, in any case, must be adapted to a greater or lesser extent to suit local situations, culture and customs. Readers interested in pursuing the subject from a more academic viewpoint are directed to the references provided at the end of the manual.