Approaches to conservation and fisheries management often promoted at a global level have had little impact in the South Pacific, due to the special situation of these island nations. Community-based management of marine resources based on traditional and modern knowledge and developed at a local level seems to be the way forward. The close relationship that Pacific Island peoples have developed with the ocean over millennia is a key part of the region’s rich culture. Despite the erosion of both cultural and natural resources in recent decades, the capacity and knowledge of coastal communities appear to provide the fundamental pillar for achieving sustainable livelihoods from the sea. Partnerships between communities, non governmental organisations (NGOs) and governments are an important mechanism but it is essential that the aspirations of communities are treated as the main driving force for this type of
management and that their legal or de facto rights over resources are respected.