The project has achieved the following results:

(1). Specific Objective 1: All the planned activities to achieve this objective have been successfully implemented on schedule.
As observed by local fishermen during their diving surveys, there have been positive changes in aquatic resources in the project seawaters. These include soft corals (Alcyonacea) and marine species of flora that have been proliferating and growing in coral reefs (Hon Lan, Mui Ngua, the Suoi Nhum estuary, etc.); and many species of reef fauna such as cockles (Anadara kagoshimensis), snails, shellfish, green mussels (Perna viridis), octopus, etc., occurred throughout the project seawaters resulting in a higher catch of fish every year. The local aquatic resources are being enriched, remarked by 93% of the local people interviewed.

(2). Specific Objective 2: All the planned activities to achieve this objective have been implemented. Unfortunately due to the impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic and more stringent regulations on tourist and community services imposed by PPC since a fisherman?s recreational fishing boat sunk in seawater of Phan Thiet city, the project has developed only one among three models of tourism and community services as planned. It is expected that the development of two models shall be resumed in the coming time when the situation returns normal, local tourism is restored, and the fishing community associations? autonomy and capacity are better improved.
Three livelihood funds have been established with its seed capital of VND 440 million; So far the funds have lent 128 turns of fisher household loans to invest in their small scaled agricultural, fishery and service activities. The fishermen community of Thuan Quy commune has organized two fishing rounds and received revenue of VND 30,768,000. The daily income of a fisher increased and reached the target (over 20%) in 2019 but declined in 2020 due to unfavorable weather in fishing grounds. However, the catch has increased if compared to that during the time prior to the project, said by 64% of fishermen participating in the project.

(3). Specific Objective 3: the project has successfully completed 66.67% of planned activities on schedule and the rest (including such activities as to organize a final project performance progress review; hold a meeting with PPC; and hand over the model) shall be implemented on 28-29 April 2021.

The project has established and run three fishermen community organizations participating in the co-management of aquatic resources protection; thank to technical support given by the project, the province is now ranked the first locality in the country for recognizing and giving all the three communities the right to manage the protection of aquatic resources; The model of community associations developed by the project satisfies legal requirements and is practical to be widely replicated.

The project has also brought about immediate benefits to the participants and the recipient communities as below:

(1). Fishermen community:
+ Local community?s income increased from fishing activities and this is due to local destructive fishing that has been under control resulting in the rehabilitation of local aquatic resources in terms of both their reserves and species of marine fauna and flora in local seawaters. In 2019, local fishermen's income increased significantly but decreased in 2020 because of unfavorable weather conditions and the prolonged COVID-19 Pandemic;
+ The revolving fund has provided an interest-free seed capital for the community to implement livelihood activities to stabilize life and minimize unsustainable fishing activities (128 turns of households loaned).
+ Through the operation of the associations, community solidarity has been increasingly strengthened. The local people now are allowed to express their opinions, discuss and proactively suggest solutions to the protection of aquatic resources in seawaters proposed for their management.
+ The violation of the law on fisheries tends to decrease resulting in reducing damages to fishing nets and/or equipment caused by the trawl nets; and minimizing conflicts, disputes, and risks of conflicts at sea.
Table 1. Average income of fishing households (VND / person / day)
Communes 2018 2019 2020
Thuan Quy 200.000 - 400.000 300.000 ? 600.000 300.000 ? 500.000
Tan Thanh 100.000 ? 200.000 300.000 ? 500.000 100.000 ? 300.000
Tan Thuan 100.000 ? 300.000 300.000 ? 500.000 200.000 ? 300.000

(2). The state aquatic resource management agency: Through the implementation of the project, the agency has attracted the attention of local fishermen communities, government authorities and other stakeholders, and mobilized their resources (finance, human, facilities and think tanks, etc.) to promote the protection and development of aquatic resources in the locality. Information with high reliability is frequently provided by local communities, thus helps the agency find appropriate solutions and measures to timely tackle any problems arisen. Besides, it is more easy for the agency to raise awareness among local communities and encourage them taking part in the protection of aquatic resources; and the relationship between the state management agency and local people has become close, thus easily empathize each other. The fishing community associations have also raised a fund of VND 210.2 million for their operation and actions to protect local aquatic resources.

Table 2. Summary of information provided by Fishermen Community Associations
Communes 2019 2020
Violation(s) Weather, resources, etc. Violation(s) Weather and resources, etc.
Thuan Quy 22 15 18 14
Tan Thanh 10 14 12 16
Tan Thuan 18 25 16 20
Total 50 54 46 50
Particularly, in 2020, the fishermen community association of Thuan Quy commune in collaboration with the Fisheries Authority organized 12 patrols at sea, detected and handled four violations; The fishermen community association of Tan Thanh commune dealt with a violation.
Describe long term benefits

- Environmental benefits:
+ When local destructive fishing is under control, it would help stabilize the local living environment, rehabilitate local aquatic resources, and increase the catch of fish inside the protected seawaters as well as in the vicinity (due to ?the effect of overspill?).
+ The artificial reefs provide a habitat for marine species of fauna and flora and also serve as barriers that effectively prevent illegal fishing by outside trawlers in coastal seawaters

- Socio-economic benefits:
+ The project has been implemented to contribute to stabilizing people's lives through sustainable fishing activities (local fishing seemed better improved than that in other localities in the province).
+ The project has helped local communities establish, maintain, and upgrade the Livelihood Fund (voluntarily contributed by their members), thus enable their investment in livelihood development activities.
+ The community associations continue developing and expanding, and diversify their livelihood development activities in order to create income and improve local fishermen?s living standard.
+ The better improved capacity of the community associations would be more supportive of the State management agencies (the community is centered and the State only provides guidance and supports).
+ A very close relationship between local people and the State management agencies would bring more efficiency and provide practical benefits to the implementation of mechanisms, policies and measures to manage and protect aquatic resources.
+ The established fishermen community associations and other results produced by the project would serve as a base for further improvement towards building civilized and responsible fishing villages in the locality.

- The State management:
+ Through the implementation of project activities, Ham Thuan Nam district is now ranked the first locality in the country for recognizing and giving local communities the right to manage the protection of aquatic resources according to Article 10, the 2017 Fisheries Law; Experiences and lessons learned from the project would help other localities to implement more effectively.
+ Roles and responsibilities in aquatic resources management, exploitation, protection and development should be shared with local people, decentralized and empowered to localities and grassroots.
+ Orientations, plans and solutions developed by the State management agencies should be appropriate and workable, and translated into local people's life.
+ The project's results would serve as the most convincing and practical rationales for the State to enact regulations and policies on sustainable fisheries development.