Data from interviews and focus groups conducted in 2 communities in Timor-Leste (Biacou and Adara) to support the published article in Frontiers in Marine Science (Evaluating the Fit of Co-management for Small-Scale Fisheries Governance in Timor-Leste). Respondents were asked about their livelihood activities, crops, livestock, fisheries, marine resources, fish aggregating devices and co-management approaches, specifically locally relevant traditional practices “tara bandu”