Marine Rehabilitation & Resource Management

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.