In the previous chapter I have introduced several prototypical approaches that address poverty and environmental sustainability in natural resource management research. The shortcomings of conventional research are described in detail showing, how the complexity of natural resource management systems has led to a shift in paradigms in agricultural research and the emergence of integrated natural resource management.

Integrated natural resources management evolves around three main principles, namely: (1) the constructivist paradigm as an overall conceptual framework guiding the research process and delivering the necessary research approaches such as adaptive management and participatory action research, (2) the integration of diverse elements to allow multiple scale of analysis such as the sustainable livelihoods concept as an analytical framework and participatory action research to deliver the responsiveness needed to analyze social systems, as well as, (3) concepts of vertical and horizontal scaling to deliver research results to more people and across wider areas while simultaneously replacing the research development continuum.

Parallel, particular attention was paid to more theoretical considerations. This included a comprehensive description about achieving a balance of positivism and constructivism, hence between ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ science or better yet quantitative and qualitative methods followed by a more explicit presentation of the sustainable livelihood framework, i.e. the effective use of capital assets, the vulnerability context to identify people’s willingness to adopt integrated natural resources management practices (Meinzen-Dick and Adato 2001,3), the organizations and institutions perspective to identify key entry points and, last but not least, the pursuit of livelihood strategies to achieve acceptable outcomes that allow the determination of practicable integrated natural resources management practices and people’s priorities both vital for the adoption of integrated natural resources management.

At last I refer to the conceptual framework in integrated natural resources management that is built on a progression of ‘cornerstones’ that were developed in an analysis of successful practice, providing objectives and concepts that guide the research and development agents in the planning, implementation and evaluation of an integrated natural resources management project and helping them to ask the right questions.

The extensive discussion of this study supports the following conclusions. Integrated natural resources management is a possibility to manage resources more effectively and with greater participation of the associated communities. What makes integrated natural resources management unique to other resource management strategies, for example community based resources management, is the integrated ‘learning cycle’. This tool alters the perspective of every single participant. Scientists become aware of the complex problems inside the natural resource system and the people become aware of their action and of the complex issues that need to be dealt with. This awareness building on both sides, as described in Chapter 2, is what forms the basis for an active engagement in the natural resource system. Dealing with different interests of various stakeholder groups in a coastal fishery sector requires compromises and a willingness to change; both can be achieved through applying integrated natural resources management.

The selected methods for the implementation of integrated natural resources management in this study are adequate to assess the coastal fishery sector, involve stakeholders and encourage awareness building. Helpful for the selection of methods is the consideration of trade-offs between the anticipated utility and the expected time and effort. However selected methods need to be adjusted to prevailing circumstances such as cultural and social characteristics.

As shown in Chapter 4 the resource system of Nha Phu Lagoon consists of a multitude of different resources, actors, levels, livelihood strategies, trends, and associated problems in the sustainable management of the natural resources. Overexploitation and destructive (illegal) fishing practices are major factors in coastal fishery resource degradation. However, other impacting factors on the coastal ecosystem include environmental pollution through untreated shrimp pond effluent, peri-urban and rural sewage, nutrient and pesticide runoff from agricultural fields, deforestation of mangroves for shrimp pond construction, as well as dispersion of chemicals from shrimp and lobster aquaculture.

Government on provincial, district and municipal level fails to enforce existing fishery regulations. Furthermore the attitude and perception of government officials concerning fishery management is apparently encouraging actors at the local level to exploit resources uncontrollably and by means of illegal (destructive) fishing practices. The exclusion of stakeholders in decision-making and the unequal distribution of authority discourage actors to participate in protection and management of coastal fishery resources.

The extended use of coastal fishery resources is linked to enforcement to reduce utility through illegal action, improved natural resources management, and alternative income generating activities outside the fishery sector. As national and local government fail to enforce current fishery laws and regulations the community of Ha Lien Village succeeds in enforcing state law themselves. The emergence of local governance occurs unintentionally. Self-help organizations or collective action proves effective in enforcing fishery regulations and in developing improved natural resources management. The devolution of natural resources management to local resource-users could play a vital role in the successful management of Vietnam’s coastal resources but one needs to consider government agencies to strengthen local governance and provide guidance on how to manage the coastal fishery in an appropriate manner.

Applied integrated natural resources management succeeds in building awareness among participants and identifying core problems in the sustainable management of coastal fishery resources. Exemplary for the success of integrated natural resources management are new management forms and ideas as well as guidelines and recommendations for the reorganization of institutions and organizations within the fishery sector. Meetings and gatherings in the course of applied integrated natural resources management prove to be effective forums for resource user groups and encourage a bottom-up approach to policy assessment and implementation. The principle of subsidiarity provides a concept how to address problems of different scales and offers implications for the organization of competency across multiple system levels.

Eventually however, the challenge is to develop the acceptance of integrated natural resources management and encourage new scholarly thinking from discipline-based towards interdisciplinary research.