Coastal resource management seen as must, not just an option
By Lionel A. Abril
The Manila Times
June 11, 2002
Being a tropical and archipelagic country and lying in Southeast Asia facing the Pacific Ocean, the Philippines is home to some of the most extensive, diverse and productive marine ecosystem in the world. It has a total of 2.2 million square kilometers of territorial waters. Its 7,100 islands and coastlines that stretch more than 18,000 kilometers host, feed and nurture over 5,000 species of plants and animals – coral reefs, mangroves and sea grass including 1,400 species of fish, 1,400 species of crustaceans, and 900 species of seaweed. Of 1,500 cities or municipalities, 832 of which are coastal.
The Philippines is the 14th among the top 52 fish producing country in the world, 11th in aquaculture production and the third largest supplier of seaweed as of 1997. The fisheries sector accounts for about three percent of the country’s gross national product (GNP).
The country also harbors seven percent of the world’s coral reefs. It has 27,000 square kilometers of coral reefs, which is equivalent to 10 percent of the country’s total land area. It has the second most diverse sea grass beds in the world. In its waters thrive 16 of the 50 species found worldwide. It has 117,000 hectares of mangrove forest. Indeed, the country has the potential of becoming the world’s major source of fish and marine products. Moreover, the country’s beaches and coral reefs supports growing tourism industry that provide livelihood to coastal communities.
Now the bad news
Fortunate as it may seem to be, the country’s marine and coastal resources are severely threatened and so as the people and industries that depend on them. The most common coastal resource management issues and concerns cited are: Depletion of fish stocks; over fishing; illegal fishing; destruction of marine habitats; widespread poverty; rapid population growth rate; and apathy of some government offices, officials and coastal communities.
In a study conducted by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) through its Fisheries Resource Management Project (FRMP) from year 2000 to 2001 in 17 bays and gulfs nationwide show that the primary concern of fisherfolk is declining fish catch per unit effort. Concretely, average catch of municipal fishers is decreasing at a rate of four percent per year. From 1.13 million tons in 1990, fish production in the municipal waters decreased to 0.92 million tons in 1999, a decline of 19 percent.
Though commercial fisheries had increased by 35 percent, from 0.7-million ton in 1990 to 0.95 million tons in 1999, the combined municipal waters and commercial fishing increased only by two percent for the same period. These occurred despite the fact that there had been marked increase in efficiency of fishing gears and fishing efforts.
Between 1988 and 1998 the number of commercial fishing vessels increased by 4.62 percent, from 3,265 to 3,416 and their total gross tonnage doubled (200 percent), from 150,000 to 300,000 gross tons.
Clearly, the percentage increase in the number of commercial fishing vessels and their total gross tonnage is far greater than the percentage increase in the combined municipal and commercial fish production. These mean that fishing efforts has gone beyond the maximum sustainable level and is under severe pressure to further increase fishing efforts, even by destructive and illegal means. The concept of open access to coastal and marine resources are often cited as the main reasons for over fishing.
About 92 percent of the respondents blame illegal fishing for the major decline in fish catch and that illegal fishing is still said to be rampant. Most cited illegal fishing activities are fish poisoning (e.g. use of cyanide), use of fine mesh nets, dynamite fishing, and intrusion of commercial fishing vessels in the municipal waters. In many instances they say, offenders are not arrested mainly because of failure of law enforcement bodies to arrive on time; inadequate law enforcement equipment and supplies; fear of reprisal; and reluctance of some members of the “Bantay Dagat” to apprehend their fellow small fisherfolk.
Destruction of Marine Habitats
Despite the richness of our marine waters, a whooping 95 percent of the coral reefs in the country are in various stages of destruction due to destructive fishing practices, pollutants from industrial and domestic sources and siltation from denuded forest. Similarly, the country lost three-fourths of its mangrove during the last century. Mangroves were cut at a rate of 8,200 hectares per year between 1970 to 1988 for fuel and building purposes and due conversion of mangrove areas into fishponds.
As coral reefs, mangroves, and sea grass beds are destroyed, those who depend on these resources are also threatened. Many species of fishes that were once abundant are now lost if not depleted. Tourism industry is also severely affected.
But more worrisome is that the depletion of fish stocks also affects the marginal and municipal fisherfolks. It is estimated that over a million fisherfolk depend directly on small-scale fishing for livelihood. They are among the poorest among the poor. They are landless. They have little formal education and economic skills aside from fishing and manual work. With very little livelihood opportunities, municipal fisherfolk are forced to fish even more, even through illegal means. Worse, commercial fishers directly compete with marginal municipal fishers. Data show that for every increase in fish catch of commercial fishers, there is a corresponding decrease in the fish catch of marginal municipal fishers.
This is further aggravated by 20 percent to 40 percent losses in the value of fish catch due to improper or non-availability of post harvest facilities and depletion of commercially valuable fishes. Not surprisingly, the FRMP study showed that the average monthly household income in fishing communities is just P4,306 which is way below the poverty income level of P11,319 set by NEDA.
The 2.36 percent annual population growth rate also adds pressure to coastal resources. Concretely, demand for fish also increases as population increases. Fish provides some 50 percent of animal protein in the Filipino diet. In coastal communities, families may source up to 80 percent of their protein needs from fish and other seafood. Many are also being driven to the sea for lack of employment opportunities.
Other reasons cited that hampers successful implementation of coastal resource management program include: (i) undefined municipal water boundaries resulting to boundary conflicts; (ii) lack of coordination among coastal municipalities and other government agencies in the enforcement of fisheries laws; (iii) weak law enforcement and prosecution; (iv) lack of appreciation among local executives on the value of CRM; (v) biased of local executives for land based agriculture; (vi) lack of funds and equipment for CRM and income generating projects; (vii) absence of an effective registration and licensing system; and (viii) political patronage.
THE AUTHOR: Lionel A. Abril is a researcher for Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) through its Fisheries Resource Management Project (FRMP).
By Lionel A. Abril
The Manila Times
June 11, 2002
Being a tropical and archipelagic country and lying in Southeast Asia facing the Pacific Ocean, the Philippines is home to some of the most extensive, diverse and productive marine ecosystem in the world. It has a total of 2.2 million square kilometers of territorial waters. Its 7,100 islands and coastlines that stretch more than 18,000 kilometers host, feed and nurture over 5,000 species of plants and animals – coral reefs, mangroves and sea grass including 1,400 species of fish, 1,400 species of crustaceans, and 900 species of seaweed. Of 1,500 cities or municipalities, 832 of which are coastal.
The Philippines is the 14th among the top 52 fish producing country in the world, 11th in aquaculture production and the third largest supplier of seaweed as of 1997. The fisheries sector accounts for about three percent of the country’s gross national product (GNP).
The country also harbors seven percent of the world’s coral reefs. It has 27,000 square kilometers of coral reefs, which is equivalent to 10 percent of the country’s total land area. It has the second most diverse sea grass beds in the world. In its waters thrive 16 of the 50 species found worldwide. It has 117,000 hectares of mangrove forest. Indeed, the country has the potential of becoming the world’s major source of fish and marine products. Moreover, the country’s beaches and coral reefs supports growing tourism industry that provide livelihood to coastal communities.
Now the bad news
Fortunate as it may seem to be, the country’s marine and coastal resources are severely threatened and so as the people and industries that depend on them. The most common coastal resource management issues and concerns cited are: Depletion of fish stocks; over fishing; illegal fishing; destruction of marine habitats; widespread poverty; rapid population growth rate; and apathy of some government offices, officials and coastal communities.
In a study conducted by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) through its Fisheries Resource Management Project (FRMP) from year 2000 to 2001 in 17 bays and gulfs nationwide show that the primary concern of fisherfolk is declining fish catch per unit effort. Concretely, average catch of municipal fishers is decreasing at a rate of four percent per year. From 1.13 million tons in 1990, fish production in the municipal waters decreased to 0.92 million tons in 1999, a decline of 19 percent.
Though commercial fisheries had increased by 35 percent, from 0.7-million ton in 1990 to 0.95 million tons in 1999, the combined municipal waters and commercial fishing increased only by two percent for the same period. These occurred despite the fact that there had been marked increase in efficiency of fishing gears and fishing efforts.
Between 1988 and 1998 the number of commercial fishing vessels increased by 4.62 percent, from 3,265 to 3,416 and their total gross tonnage doubled (200 percent), from 150,000 to 300,000 gross tons.
Clearly, the percentage increase in the number of commercial fishing vessels and their total gross tonnage is far greater than the percentage increase in the combined municipal and commercial fish production. These mean that fishing efforts has gone beyond the maximum sustainable level and is under severe pressure to further increase fishing efforts, even by destructive and illegal means. The concept of open access to coastal and marine resources are often cited as the main reasons for over fishing.
About 92 percent of the respondents blame illegal fishing for the major decline in fish catch and that illegal fishing is still said to be rampant. Most cited illegal fishing activities are fish poisoning (e.g. use of cyanide), use of fine mesh nets, dynamite fishing, and intrusion of commercial fishing vessels in the municipal waters. In many instances they say, offenders are not arrested mainly because of failure of law enforcement bodies to arrive on time; inadequate law enforcement equipment and supplies; fear of reprisal; and reluctance of some members of the “Bantay Dagat” to apprehend their fellow small fisherfolk.
Destruction of Marine Habitats
Despite the richness of our marine waters, a whooping 95 percent of the coral reefs in the country are in various stages of destruction due to destructive fishing practices, pollutants from industrial and domestic sources and siltation from denuded forest. Similarly, the country lost three-fourths of its mangrove during the last century. Mangroves were cut at a rate of 8,200 hectares per year between 1970 to 1988 for fuel and building purposes and due conversion of mangrove areas into fishponds.
As coral reefs, mangroves, and sea grass beds are destroyed, those who depend on these resources are also threatened. Many species of fishes that were once abundant are now lost if not depleted. Tourism industry is also severely affected.
But more worrisome is that the depletion of fish stocks also affects the marginal and municipal fisherfolks. It is estimated that over a million fisherfolk depend directly on small-scale fishing for livelihood. They are among the poorest among the poor. They are landless. They have little formal education and economic skills aside from fishing and manual work. With very little livelihood opportunities, municipal fisherfolk are forced to fish even more, even through illegal means. Worse, commercial fishers directly compete with marginal municipal fishers. Data show that for every increase in fish catch of commercial fishers, there is a corresponding decrease in the fish catch of marginal municipal fishers.
This is further aggravated by 20 percent to 40 percent losses in the value of fish catch due to improper or non-availability of post harvest facilities and depletion of commercially valuable fishes. Not surprisingly, the FRMP study showed that the average monthly household income in fishing communities is just P4,306 which is way below the poverty income level of P11,319 set by NEDA.
The 2.36 percent annual population growth rate also adds pressure to coastal resources. Concretely, demand for fish also increases as population increases. Fish provides some 50 percent of animal protein in the Filipino diet. In coastal communities, families may source up to 80 percent of their protein needs from fish and other seafood. Many are also being driven to the sea for lack of employment opportunities.
Other reasons cited that hampers successful implementation of coastal resource management program include: (i) undefined municipal water boundaries resulting to boundary conflicts; (ii) lack of coordination among coastal municipalities and other government agencies in the enforcement of fisheries laws; (iii) weak law enforcement and prosecution; (iv) lack of appreciation among local executives on the value of CRM; (v) biased of local executives for land based agriculture; (vi) lack of funds and equipment for CRM and income generating projects; (vii) absence of an effective registration and licensing system; and (viii) political patronage.
THE AUTHOR: Lionel A. Abril is a researcher for Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) through its Fisheries Resource Management Project (FRMP).
