Small-scale fisheries are in trouble. Most are overfished, which is threatening people's livelihood and food security. Territorial Use Rights in Fisheries, or TURFs, provide a solution that allows communities to prosper while protecting their precious marine resources.
What are TURFs?
Territorial Use Rights in Fisheries (TURFs) give individuals or communities exclusive access to marine resources within a specific area.
As long as there is a defined territory in which specific individuals or groups have explicit rights to fish, it’s a TURF. Design features vary widely, but all TURFs strive to engage and empower local communities while providing incentives to fish responsibly. They can also allow local communities to enjoy equal access to the benefits of improved fisheries management. When fishers have a direct stake in the future of their fishery, they will work to protect it. In order for fishers to be confident in the availability of future returns, they must have exclusive access to the resource. This is often extremely challenging, but TURFs offer a unique management solution. Not only do TURFs make biodiversity and conservation goals more achievable, but they can also lead to increased income and food security for the communities that rely on these resources.
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Explore Countries with TURFs
The Bren School of Environmental Science & Management | Santa Barbara, CA | discoverturfs@gmail.com
Use our DiscoverTURFs map to examine TURFs around the world. Learn how TURFs are being operated and managed in 41 countries around the world.