Marine Rehabilitation & Resource Management

COVERAGE

The Program is developing and implementing coastal resources management plans for 12 priority bays of which the first three are in the initial pilot sites:

1. Calauag Bay Quezon Province
2. Caigaa Bay Leyte
3. Panguil Bay Misamiz Occidental, Lanao del Norte, and Zamboanga del Sur
4. Manila Bay Bataan, Bulacan, Cavite, and Pampanga
5. Tayabas Quezon Province
6. Ragay Gulf Quezon and Camarines Sur
7. San Miguel Bay Camaines Norte and Sur
8. Sosogon Bay Sorsogon
9. agonoy Gulf Camarines Sur, Albay nad Catanduanes
10. San Pedro Bay Samar and Leyte
11. Omoc Bay Leyte
12. Sogod Bay Southern Leyte

The 12 priority bays have been selected based on the following criteria:
(i) Resource regeneration requirements
(ii) Environment Degradation Problems
(iii) Poverty Level of Fishing Communities
(iv) Initiative and Self-Regulation by Municipal Governments and Local Fishermen

For aquaculture, implementation is being done in the six priority regions, which have been selected, based on the extent of aquaculture development.

Region I Ilocos
Region III Cental Luzon
Region IV Southern Tagalog
Region IV Bicol
Region VI Western Visayas
Region IX Western Mindanao

Achieving Program Goal

The goals of the program are being met through improving the administration and management of marine resources by fishery agencies, more effective coordination of research activities and proper enforcement of existing laws. Decreasing fishing effort in heavily exploited areas and rehabilitating the coastal environment will be necessary while establishing alternate livelihood activities for fishermen.

The general term of field management is to involve the coastal communities in the decision-making and implementation process. Regulatory functions are encouraged at the municipal level to complement participation lie with the communities, municipal governments, Department of Agriculture and Department of Environment and Natural Resources regional offices and non-government agencies working in the areas.

COMPONENTS

1. Fishery Resources and Ecological Assessment

To provide scientific foundation for rational management, resource and ecological assessments are being undertaken in priority fishing areas. These studies will form part of the National Fisheries Information System which will continually monitor fish stocks, habitats, ecological parameters and socio economic indicators. Aquaculture areas are also being surveyed so that the Fishpond Lease Agreements of unproductive pond maybe canceled and those that are not suitable for further development maybe reconverted into mangroves.

2. Coastal Resource Management
This component is the core of the resource and environmental rehabilitation thrust of the Program. As a basic implementation strategy, community-based initiatives in resource a management are being encouraged. In cooperation with NGOs, fishermen are being organized and trained to undertake resource enhancement measures such as:
- the establishment of fish sanctuaries and marine reserves;
- the construction of artificial reefs and transplantation of corals; and
- the reforestation of mangrove areas.

Likewise, viable alternative livelihood projects are being identified and developed to draw fishermen into other economic activities, thus relieving the pressure on overfished coastal waters.

3. Research and Extension

This component includes the following:
- the preparation of a comprehensive National Fisheries Research Program
- the networking and upgrading of existing research facilities
- the provision of scholarships and training to meet long-term research and extension staffing needs
- the expansion of fisheries extension services; and
- the conduct of specific priority studies, such as:
i. sea ranching and fish farming
ii. impact evaluation of artificial reefs
iii. red tide investigation and monitoring; and
iv. tuna and cephalopod exploratory fishing.

4. Law Enforcement

Successful law enforcement and effective protection of marine resources in the Philippines requires decentralized efforts, organized and based in individual fishing communities. Thus, assistance in term of training and logistics support are given to community-based task forces composed of local police and government personnel, but more importantly by the fishermen themselves.

5. Credit

This is to support for small-scale fishermen and the intensification of aquaculture production.
A seed fund has been provided to supplement the government’s Integrated Rural Financing Program. Alternative financing schemes have been studied to incorporate NGOs and fishermen’s cooperatives as financial intermediaries. Moreover, private banks are already identified and accredited to extend more credit to the sector through a guarantee fund scheme.

6. Infrastructure

Through this component, post-harvest facilities such as fish landing, cold storage and processing centers will be made available for the sector. Research will be undertaken to develop and promote technologies which will reduce spoilage and upgrade the quality of fishery products.

OBJECTIVE OF THE PROGRAM

1. On coastal Fisheries, the program addressed (i) regeneration, conservation and sustained management of aquatic resources with emphasis on balancing fishing effort to maximum sustainable yield; (ii) rehabilitation and protection of the coastal environment, and (iii) alleviation of poverty among municipal fishermen particularly through diversification of their sources of livelihood.

2. On Aquaculture, the program focuses on intensifying production to raise the productivity of resources in this sub-sector but this will be done within limits to maintain ecological balance; and

3. On Offshore, deep see fishing, the program induces commercial fishing away from overfished coastal waters and into the exploitation of deep-sea resources.
POLICY AND INSTITUTIONAL REFORMS

1. Rationalize the issuance of permits and licensees for fishing boats, gears, fishing concession and public lands for aquaculture to assure that; (i) grant of permits are guided by established Maximum Sustainable Yields (MSYs) and are based on resource and ecological conditions of the concerned fishing or fish farming areas, and; (ii) fees or rents paid for privilege to the use public resources reflect economic levels.

2. Decentralize management of nearshore fisheries resources to municipalities and local fishing communities. In this connection, the Department of Aquaculture will push for the amendment of PD 704 to expand the scope of municipal regulatory powers and to ensure that municipal fishermen are given preferential use of the municipal waters.

3. Strengthen enforcement of fisheries law through the Presidential Committee on Anti-Illegal and Maine Conservation.

4. Establish a National Fishery Information System to provide solid technical, ecological and economic database support to policy, investment and resource management decisions for the sector. The system will provide periodic information on fisheries resources, fisheries habitat, inland pollution sources and socio-economic indicators.

5. Promote community- based initiatives to rehabilitate, conserve and protect the coastal resources and to diversify the resources of income of small-scale fishermen. As a general policy, NGOs will be engaged to assist community organization, and livelihood diversification;

6. Prioritize and coordinate research efforts to support the new Fisheries Development Program. A network of one National and three zonal marine fisheries research centers will be established. The network will be in the form of cooperative ventures with regional universities and/or research institutions involving sharing of staff, facilities and financial resources.

7. Expand extension services by establishing a Provincial Fisheries Management Unit (PFMU) at the DA provincial offices.

8. Encourage the formal financial institutions to address the credit needs of the fisheries sector in support of: (i) income diversification among marginal coastal fishermen, and (ii) intensification of aquaculture development.

9. Continue to provide a minimum standard of post-harvest facilities particularly in areas where the private sector is not capable or willing to put up such facilities. Whenever there are interested parties, these facilities will be sold or leased to the private sector.

10. Extend trade incentives to assist in making export products internationally competitive. The incentives may include: (i) reduction of tariffs, duties and taxes for the importation of offshore fishing vessels, parts and equipment; (ii) upgrading of quality control procedures to levels acceptable to major importing countries, and (iii) active membership to international organizations for exchange information.

Fisheries Sector Program (FSP)

Orientation Course On Fisheries Sector Program And Coastal Resource Management Planning

Conducted by:
FSP – Progam Management Office
and
Bureau of Fisheries & Aquatic Resources

A PRIME ON FISHERIES SECTOR PROGRAM

BACKGROUND

In May 1988, a comprehensive study of the Fisheries Sector was undertaken. This study highlighted issues which have also been ventilated during the National Fisheries Conference in Baguio City in March 1987. Participants in this conference included representative from various sub-sector of fisheries, from the small scale marginal fishermen to big commercial fishing companies.

To address the major concerns of the sector, the Department of Agriculture with the assistance of the Asian Development Bank is implementing a five-year Fisheries Sector Program starting 1990. The Department puts major priority and urgency into this program in the context of current economic, environmental and poverty alleviation concerns.

PROBLEMS FACING THE FISHERIES SECTOR

1. Resource Depletion in the Coastal Zone

The coastal zone, with its mangrove forests, coral reefs and coastal shelf, is biologically the most productive marine environment. It provides over 75% of our total fishery harvest, estimated at 2.1 million metric ton/year. However, the coastal zone has been under intense pressure from overfishing. It is estimated that fishing effort for small pelagic fishes (or those that swim near the surface of the water) is double that of what is allowed to ensure resource sustainability. The nearshore demersal stock (or bottom-dwelling fishes) is estimated at only 30% of levels existing in the 40’s. The sector study further reports that all of the major bays have now overfished.

2. Widespread Environmental Damage

It has been reported that 70% of the coral reefs have been subjected to major damage. Only 35% of the original mangrove cover believed to exist in 1920’s remains. The National Pollution Control Commission estimates that of the 400 major rivers, 50 are heavily polluted, 10 are virtually dead. “Red Tide” has been seasonally affecting areas.

3. Poverty Among Municipal Fishermen

In the face of deteriorating resource base, the absolute number of municipal fisher folk has increased, on a national basis, by about 50% over the last ten years. Hence, the dual pressure of resource depletion and population growth in the coastal zone has put the municipal family’s economic status increasingly bound and defined by vicious poverty cycle. The sector study reports that the catch per fishermen in regions V, VII, VIII and XI has declined by an average of 42% over the last ten years. Except for four regions (IV, VI, IX and X), the average catch per fishermen in the eight regions does not allow a municipal fisherman to live above the official poverty line. Nationwide, about 80% of the municipal fishing families are estimated to live below the official poverty line.

4. Low Productivity if Aquaculture

The share of aquaculture to the total fisheries production has more than doubled from 11% in 1977 to 25% in 1987. However, inspite of such impressive performances, use of aquaculture resources have been inefficient. The sector study reports that average production of brackish water fishponds in 1987 was one metric ton per hectare per year. This is well below the tourm.t./ha. per year report from other countries.

5. Underexploited Offshore and Exclusive Zone (EEZ) Waters

While both the municipal fishermen and most of our commercial fishermen have been competing with each other in the nearshore grounds, the offshore waters, which constitute 88% of our territorial waters, have remained underexploited. The constraints in exploiting these resources are varied and difficult to assess in terms of their respective impact on productivity. They include high fuel costs, inadequate information on availability of resources in offshore waters, and an aging fishing fleet with growing obsolescence.

METHODOLOGY:

The training shall be a live-in activity and shall be conducted by Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in coordination with Program Management Office (PMO)/FSP. The Department of Agriculture (DA) provincial staff shall administratively support the implementation of this training in the field. Resource persons shall be provided by CRM Task Force of BFAR and DENR under the guidance of DA consultants

The training shall use mostly the lecture type approach implemented by slide presentation. A planning workshop shall also be conducted to elicit involvement of every participant. Group discussions and consultations will be applied to facilitate learning.

The training activities shall be documented for record purposes.

Overview of the Philippine Sector Program

1. Problems of Philippine Sector Program
2. Goals/Objectives
3. Components
- fishery resource and ecological assessments
- nearshore resource management
- research and extension
- law enforcement
- credit
4. Geographic Coverage
- 12 bays and additional areas
- 6 priority regions
5. Program Strategies and Policy Reform.

II. Issues, constraints and Their Causes Affecting the Coastal Environment.

1. Resource and Management Issues
- degradation of habitat and environment in general
- overfishing, destructive and illegal fishing
- competition and conflicts in resource use
- low production in aquaculture
2. Socioeconomic and Cultural Issues
- poverty in coastal communities
- lack of alternative livelihood
- overpopulation
- cultural erosion among fishermen
3. Legal and Institutional Issues
- laws and policies not appropriate in national level
- poor law enforcement
- weakness of regional offices
- unclear rules of municipal and provincial government
- research and monitoring systems are not functional

III. Integrated Coastal Resource Management

1. Introduction to Coastal Resource Management (CRM)
- goals and objectives
- concept and definition
- action plan and planning process
2. Approaches for implementing specific CRM plans and projects
- community-based resource management approach
- involvement of NGOs and government
- education and community participation
- improve law enforcement
3. Strategies for CM and Environmental Rehabilitation
- municipal marine parks and reserves
- limiting fishing effort
- artificial reefs as a tool for coastal management
- mangrove reforestation
4. Artificial Reef Development
- Objectives of establishing Artificial Reefs
- Criteria for site selection
- Management consideration
5. Management of Mangroves
- Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) design

IV. CRM Planning Workshop for Bay Management Site

1. Presentation of Bay profile
2. Planning workshop for the bay
3. Presentation of outputs from planning exercises

General Objective:

By the end of this course, the participants shall be able to develop awareness and understanding of goals / objectives / components and strategies of FSP as well as the concepts of integrated coastal resource management.

Specifically, the participants shall be able to:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the goals/objectives, plans and implementation strategies of the FSP.

2. Identify and define policy and institutional reforms, scope of activities and implementation arrangements of the various components of the program.

3. Develop awareness of the issues/constraints and their causes affecting the fisheries sector.

4. Develop understanding of the concepts and principles of CRM planning, approaches for implementing CRM plans and strategies for CRM and environmental rehabilitation.

5. Develop understanding on the role of artificial reefs in living resources enrichment and as a tool for fisheries management.

6. Demonstrate awareness of the management and conservation of mangroves resources for coastal development.

7. Develop an understanding of the process in formulating a coastal management plan and preparing the strategies and actions for implementation.

The principal outputs of the training are a better understanding of:

1. FSP goals/objectives and policy reforms;

2. Concept and approaches for integrated coastal resource management;

3. CRM planning.

Rationale:The Fisheries Sector Program is a comprehensive effort to attain an ecologically balanced utilization of marine resources as a basic strategy for long-term sustainable development in the fisheries sector. This can be achieved through proper exploitation and protection of the fishery resources. This dual approach of management requires maximum participation from all sectors of coastal communities to ensure that benefits will accrue to the majority of the people.

The increasing recognition of cooperating organizations like the non-government organizations and the agricultural and fishing councils provides an opportunity for Fisheries Sector Program (FSP) to interlink its program in the municipal / provincial / regional level.. The so-called people-based non-government organizations (NGOs) could complement the government and the private sector as the major shapers of the country’s destiny. These NGOs possess a wide range of technical expertise ranging from organizing and communications to financial and organizational management. On the other hand, the agricultural and fishery councils at present are working closely with and supporting aggressively the Department of Agriculture’s plans and programs in the municipal / provincial / regional level. There is also a progressive political trend of the direct participation of the local government units (LGUs) in implementing projects in the locality and a demand for an access to resources in their area of jurisdiction. The LGUs have capabilities to provide the basic services to and compliment national agencies in addressing problems in their localities.

It is in the respect that the Department of Agriculture has initiated institutional and policy reforms which provide a framework for Fisheries sector program implementation. Among the reforms are directly related to resource management and environmental concern, promotions of community-based initiative and decentralization of the management of nearshore/coastal fisheries.

Thus, orientation course is aimed to orient local government units and selected leaders of fishing communities of the three priority bay areas (target you own priority coastal area) on the management policies and strategies for an integrated costal resource management.

One of the best ways to make a group (15 members up) successful in their endeavor is to create something that really helps not only the group itself, but to help the community as well. By making a cooperative group, this could trigger the group’s potential.

By cooperative system, there are work in the community to be handled by the cooperative. Its not only that they could generate income, but also to leverage the community expenses via the cooperative system.

Though there are things that hamper a group to success, this is due to the personal vested interest of one of the officials in the coop. Since cooperation is the objective, all the records should be transparent that all the members should know the standing of their group.

If in any case, the cooperative should educate its members about the rules and regulations of the cooperative to avoid misunderstanding.

Our Coastal Environment as one source of food and income is degrading due to natural and unnatural distraction created by the people.  As the human race develop and multiply, the number of people especially in the community living in the nearby shore unknowingly exploit the marine resources .