Final answer:
TURF involves local communities in managing fishing territories, through co-management, ensuring their participation in decision-making and sustainable resource use.
Step-by-step explanation:
TURF, or territorial use rights in fisheries, encourages local participation by involving local communities in the management of fishing territories. This method is part of a broader concept known as co-management, which seeks to distribute authority for resource management more equitably between local stakeholders, state political systems, and conservation organizations. Through co-management, local resource users gain a voice in the regulatory process, allowing them to set limits on resource extraction and make decisions related to the conservation and sustainable use of marine resources. This has been shown to increase participation and investment in marine protected areas (MPA), as seen in the Comoros Islands, where local users played a key role in decision-making regarding the MPA and the types of fishing gear restricted.
Such collaborative management approaches contrast with externally imposed regulations that exclude community input. They ensure that local knowledge and needs are integrated into resource management, which can lead to more effective and acceptable conservation strategies. Ultimately, these practices aim to balance the preservation of biodiversity with the needs of local communities, particularly where these communities rely heavily on fishing for their livelihoods.