Integrating social equity as a new paradigm in managing fisheries: Case of the flying fish roe fishery, West Papua Province, Indonesia

Achieving social equity while ensuring resource and environmental sustainability is an important part of the Sustainable Development Goals but the inclusion of social equity in fisheries management is still limited. The current focus on biological sustainability tends to overlook the broader social aspects such as fisheries' contributions to local communities. Based on fisheries assessments covering biological, social and economic aspects using a participatory process, the provincial government of West Papua, Indonesia has established a fisheries management plan (FMP) for the flying fish roe fishery. Using a framework containing the six dimensions of social equity: context, recognition, distribution, environment, procedure and management; we assessed social equity integration into the FMP. Results suggest that integrating social equity in fishery management is about more than ensuring a fair distribution of benefits. There is a need to address the capabilities of local people and government to attain outcomes such as socioeconomic benefits, resource sustainability, and participation of stakeholders in an adaptive fishery management regime. The findings reinforce the need for a holistic approach to sustainable development initiatives that include social equity considerations in fishery resources management.