A fishery cooperative is a group of fishers who work together to meet the objective of business. This can be performed both informally and formal through an agreement of the group cooperation. They are therefore categorized as either
(i) voluntary groups established to assist and benefit its users, or
(ii) institutionalized, legal devices that allow competition and group action within the confines of other forms of corporate organizations.
PURPOSE
To assist fishers to obtain a wider range of services, more control over their products, and more negotiating power than they would individually. Even though organizations, cooperatives, and other organizational structures related to fisheries have an uneven history in developing countries, they can serve possibly beneficial acts include:
- raising fishing communities’ stability and resilience;
- helping stabilize markets by managing supply;
- strengthening fishers’ bargaining position with traders;
- raising the quality and value added of products;
- developing postharvest facilities and practices;
- improving market information access and logistics; and
- reducing risk by working together.
Factors necessary for success
- Fishers gain more profits from the cooperative than individually
- The members’ interests sufficiently to encourage them for participate
- Adequate volume of business be secured and maintained
- Sufficient financial and capital
- Efficient management and benefit
- The members prepared to handle conflict arising from competition
