Fisheries co-management is flexible and cooperative management of the aquatic resources by the user groups and the government.
[1] Co-management developed due to an attempt to improve the success of fisheries management as many of the aquatic resources risked being or were already depleted.
[1] The aim was to involve the community in the decision making process so that there may be an increased adherence to the regulations set by the government.
Without proper enforcement or co-management the community would often disregard the law and continue as they previously were, often despite the detrimental impact this may have on the ocean.
[1][3] If community based management forms part of national legislation, or developmental plans than it is classified as co-management.
[3] Conflicting views and economic versus conservation issues appear to be some of the main limitations to a successful co-management process.
[3] Third party involvement such as non-governmental organizations (NGOs), or student groups, often forms an essential part of a successful co-management.