2 Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center The FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (CCRF) sets the principles and international standards of behavior and practices to ensure effective conservation, management, and development of living aquatic resources, with due respect for the ecosystem and biodiversity (FAO, 1995). As stated in the CCRF, “ the purpose of the ecosystem approach to fsheries is to plan, develop, and manage fsheries in a manner that addresses the multiple needs and desires of societies without jeopardizing the options for future generations to beneft from the full range of goods and services provided by marine ecosystems.” While specifcally focusing on fsheries, the ecosystem approach to fsheries (EAFM) is concerned with the relationship between fshing activities and the ecosystem as a whole, including the social and economic implications, as well as management requirements. Moreover, it also considers non-target species, endangered species, minimizing waste and pollution, biodiversity, and welfare of coastal communities, small-scale fsheries and subsistence fshers. Overall, EAFM “strives to balance diverse societal objectives, by taking into account the knowledge and uncertainties about biotic and human components of ecosystems and their interactions and applying an integrated approach to fsheries within meaningful boundaries” (FAO, 2003). Showcasing the Application of Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management: a case study in Nainang Village, Muang Krabi, Thailand Panitnard Weerawat and Parnpan Worranut An EAFM is a practical, participatory way to manage fsheries by continually striving to achieve a balance between ecological well-being and human well-being through good governance. FAO defnes an Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries (EAF) as “an approach to fsheries management and development that strives to balance diverse societal objectives, by taking into account the knowledge and uncertainties about biotic, abiotic, and human components of ecosystems and their interactions and applying an integrated approach to management of fsheries within ecologically meaningful boundaries” (FAO 2003). It endeavors to plan, develop, and manage fsheries in a manner that addresses the multiple needs and desires of diverse stakeholders and the broader societies, without jeopardizing the options for future generations to beneft from the full range of goods and services provided by marine ecosystems (Garcia et al., 2003; FAO 2003, 2012; Heenan et al., 2015). EAFM includes seven key principles that are in line with the CCRF (Box 1). The Southeast Asian Fisheries Scenario Most of the fsheries in the Southeast Asia region have declined, especially over the past 30 years. Conventional approaches to manage the target fsh stocks and species in isolation from their supporting ecosystem have largely been ineffective and inequitable, and unable to address the challenges of complex multi-species and multi-gear fsheries as well as counter the impacts of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fshing. In addition, the reality that fsheries are dependent on ecosystems affected by both natural and anthropogenic factors is oftentimes ignored, considering the wide range of societal objectives for fishery resources and marine ecosystems among diverse stakeholder groups. Therefore, the need for more effective and equitable management that balances ecological well-being and societal benefts has become very evident in order to ensure the long-term sustainable uses of the fshery resources. Such management measures need to take into account good governance and ecosystem dynamics of which people are involved with very important roles in the management. Since the ASEAN Member States (AMSs) are signatory to the 1995 FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries which calls for the promotion of an Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM), the AMSs also considered it important to promote the EAFM concept in the region, as demonstrated by their adoption of the ASEAN-SEAFDEC Resolution and Plan of Action on Sustainable Fisheries for Food Security Towards 2020 “Fish for the People 2020” (SEAFDEC, 2011). Specifcally, Resolution (RES No. 6) encourages SEAFDEC and the AMSs to “Implement effective management of fsheries through an ecosystem approach to fsheries that integrates habitat and fshery resource management aimed at increasing the social and economic benefts to all stakeholders, especially Box 1. Key principles of an Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management Principle 1: Good governance Principle 2: Appropriate scales (across ecological, socio- economic, temporal, and legal/ jurisdictional levels) Principle 3: Participation with stakeholder involvement throughout the planning and management processes Principle 4: Multiple objectives of different stakeholder groups Principle 5: Cooperation and coordination across sectors/ groups/ institutions and management levels ( e.g. regional, national, provincial, municipal, and village) Principle 6: Adaptive management Principle 7: Precautionary approaches to ensure that management is able to address threats under conditions of uncertainty over time