Regulatory Approaches to Access to the Community Rights of Fisherfolk Around Pattani Bay

Abstract

This article aims to study the problems and needs regarding the community rights of fisherfolk around Pattani Bay and to propose an approach for propelling access to the rights. Participatory Action Research (PAR), the Future Search Conference, and the qualitative analysis were employed in the study. The study’s samples include representatives of the fishermen, community leaders, and government officials. The research found that: Problems with community rights included the violation of rights and management and development of restoring resources eventually affecting economic rights. To repond to the community’s needs, there should be a decentralization of power, income increases, and rights of sustainable natural resources management under the authority of government officials. To propel the access to the rights, decentralizations of power to the locals should be inplemented. A large proportion of management power is given to the fishermen with responsible fisheries. The two keys to success are utilizing data about the real needs of the community to design planning and law enforcement in the area under cooperation of local villagers and the government.