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ontrary to common perception, most fishers and other coastal stakeholders
in the Philippines support coastal resource management (CRM) activities,
even those that are seen to reduce their income in the immediate term.
This is one of the key findings of a recent study commissioned by the
Coastal Resource Management Project
(CRMP).
The study was conducted in the six CRMP
Learning Area provinces of Bohol, Cebu, Davao del Sur, Negros Oriental,
Palawan and Sarangani, and 10 other provinces, including Quezon, Albay,
Aklan, Negros Occidental, Leyte, Misamis Oriental, Davao del Norte, Davao
Oriental, Lanao del Norte, and Zamboanga del Sur.
Fishers and other coastal stakeholders in the Philippines are "very
much aware of the problems affecting the coastal environment and the causes
of these problems," the study noted. Environmental degradation was
identified as a "most pressing issue" second only to poverty,
and coastal degradation was named the top environmental problem by the
700 respondents, most of them local government officials and members of
fishing communities, who participated in the survey.
About 65% of the respondents said law enforcement in their areas was effective,
with a significantly higher percentage (69%) noted in the CRMP Learning
Areas than in the other areas (59%). The Bantay Dagat, a citizens sea
watch group organized by the local government unit to assist in law enforcement,
received a positive rating, with some 60% of respondents saying they find
the Bantay Dagat a "big" or "very big" help.
Up to 76% of respondents said they supported or "strongly supported"
the local government in enforcing certain laws or ordinances for CRM.
The percentage of respondents who expressed support or strong support
for specific laws and ordinances ranged from 50% (for laws setting catch
ceilings) to 76% (for a ban on the use of compressors or "hookah."
Exhibiting a high awareness level for coastal laws, about 71% said they
favored heavier penalties for fishers who use illegal and destructive
methods, and 72% indicated they would support a total ban on the entry
of commercial fishers into municipal waters.
Researchers from Trends MBL, who conducted the survey, noted however that
despite the respondents' expression of support for CRM, there was a prevalent
cynicism directed at government's and other stakeholders' (community members)
commitment and capability to implement an effective CRM program. About
85% were aware that the management of municipal waters is primarily the
responsibility of the local government. Fully 92% agreed that CRM is "everyone's
responsibility," but a significant number said other community members
lack "civic-mindedness," and national government support to
CRM is "insufficient."
Other highlights of the study:
- More respondents (83%) rated themselves as poor compared to the national
total rural figure (79%).
- 54% thought their quality of life is worse now than 12 months ago
(total rural residents: 50%).
- 89% agreed that unproductive fishponds should be converted back to
mangrove
- 86% said all municipal fishers should be registered and licensed
- 73% said fishpond permits on unproductive fishponds should be canceled
- 72% indicated they will report illegal fishing activities, and 71%
said they will chide other fishers who use illegal fishing gear or methods.
- 10% would be willing to leave fishing, 18% expressed interest in
shifting to other livelihood, 24% said they preferred fishing, and 36%
insisted that fishing was the only form of occupation they were willing
to engage in.
The complete results of this study, which will be used as benchmark
information to gauge the impact of CRM interventions in CRMP Learning
Areas and elsewhere, will soon be available for downloading from this
web site.
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