This step involves describing the context of the fisheries co-management system and the process of implementing the fisheries co-management system.   

It is meant to provide background information about the fisheries co-management system. This information will support the evaluation process and help the evaluation team with measuring the indicators and interpreting the results.

The tools and resources for this step are commonly used in institutional analysis and several approaches to social–ecological system investigations. Many are available through hubs and portals for the ecosystem approach to fisheries, marine social science or transdisciplinary research. They apply to both tasks in this step.