Fish Vool) to Tuna and Sardine Sectors in the Philippines

Fisheries Research 161 (2015) 174–181

Contents lists available at ScienceDirect

Fisheries Research

j ournal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/fishres

Development and application of the ﬁsheries vulnerability assessment

tool (Fish Vool) to tuna and sardine sectors in the Philippines

a a,b a

Melchor R. Jacinto , Al Jayson G. Songcuan , Graceous Von Yip ,

a,∗

Mudjekeewis D. Santos

National Fisheries Research and Development Institute, 101 Mother Ignacia St., Quezon City, Philippines

Marine Science Institute, University of the Philippines Diliman, 1101 Quezon City, Philippines

r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: Climate change studies in the Philippines are emerging fast, focusing on different ﬁelds of sciences. How-

Received 20 January 2014

ever, studies that address the ﬁsheries sector remain insufﬁcient. Here, we described a sector-based

Received in revised form 4 July 2014

ﬁsheries vulnerability assessment tool (Fish Vool) to evaluate the vulnerability of primary ﬁshery com-

Accepted 5 July 2014

modities. Tool demonstration and validation were conducted in General Santos and Zamboanga City,

which are the primary producers of tuna and sardine, respectively. Fish Vool revealed an overall medium

Keywords:

vulnerability (low exposure, medium sensitivity, and low adaptive capacity) for both sectors. The vulner-

Climate change

ability assessment of the tuna and sardine sectors emphasizes the potential of Fish Vool to assess climate

Vulnerability assessment tool

Fisheries change vulnerability for primary commodities and other ﬁshery sectors.

Food security

1. Introduction Accordingly, a National Framework Strategy on Climate Change

was formed to aid in adaptive capacity building of communities and

Climate change, also referred to as global warming, is the optimization of mitigation opportunities toward sustainable devel-

increase in global atmospheric temperature and high variability in opment. The Philippine climate change policy provides guidelines

frequency and intensity of extreme weather disturbances, which for the development of adaptation strategies, which can be accom-

poses threat to society, biodiversity, economy, and food secu- plished by conducting vulnerability assessments (VAs), among

rity (Adger et al., 2005; IPCC, 2001). Philippine development and others (e.g., Allison et al., 2009; Cochrane et al., 2009; Mamauag

progress are critically related to the adaptive capacity toward the et al., 2013; Santos et al., 2011). VAs, especially for ﬁsheries and

emerging effects of climate change. The ﬁsheries sector contributes aquaculture, provide a better way to understand the interactions

to the country’s economy by generating approximately 2.2% (170.3 among the natural system, pressures, and threats, which serves as

billion pesos) of gross domestic product and 452 million dollars of a basis for the development of climate change adaptation (CCA)

export earnings (Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), options (Mamauag et al., 2013).

2010), as well as providing sources of livelihood to rural areas and Several climate change and VA studies (Jose and Cruz, 1999;

coastal communities. However, this sector may be highly vulner- Badjeck et al., 2010; Sajise et al., 2012; Mamauag et al., 2013) have

able to the impacts of climate change (Burke et al., 2012; Hughes been conducted in the Philippines, which also included the devel-

et al., 2012). Harmeling (2011) ranked the Philippines as the sev- opment of a VA tool. However, most of these vulnerability tools

enth most vulnerable country to climate change on the basis of were designed to evaluate the vulnerability of speciﬁc subjects

long-term trends of exposure and extreme weather events from only. Mamauag et al. (2013) designed a framework for the VA of

1990 to 2009. Impacts contributing to the vulnerability of ﬁsheries coastal ﬁsheries ecosystems (Tool for Understanding Resilience of

include direct and indirect effects of physical and chemical factors, Fisheries, VA-TURF). VA-TURF was used to assess the vulnerability

such as temperature, winds, vertical mixing, salinity, oxygen, and of the coastal ﬁsheries ecosystems in the tropics to climate change.

pH (Brander, 2010). This tool was demonstrated in all coastal barangays of two island

municipalities located along the Verde Island Passage, which has

the world’s highest marine shore ﬁsh biodiversity. However, VA-

TURF is limited to ﬁsheries associated with nearshore habitats, uses

∗ the coastal or ﬁshing village (barangay) as the spatial unit, and lacks

Corresponding author. Tel.: +632 3725063.

E-mail address: [email protected] (M.D. Santos). commercial and sectoral levels of assessment.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ﬁshres.2014.07.007

M.R. Jacinto et al. / Fisheries Research 161 (2015) 174–181 175

Table 1

Fisheries vulnerability assessment matrix (scoring guide).

Components Score

1 or 2 3 or 4 5

Sensitivity Compare catch 20 years ago Increasing catch rate over the Normal catch rate: Mix of Decreasing catch rate; Small,

(Catch rate = number of kgs. years; Most catches are large, small and large ﬁshes immature ﬁshes are abundant

added/deducted from the catch mature ﬁshes

20 yrs ago compared today)

≥ ± ≤

Average length at ﬁrst sexual 5 cm;Greater than 2 cm but 2 cm; Greater than 2 cm but 5 cm

maturity (for validation) less than 5 cm less than 5 cm

Dependence on resource Household income from 41–60%; 61–30% Household income from

resource-dependent is less resource-dependent is greater

than 20%; 21–40% than 80%

Household age structure 26–40; 41–55 15–25; 56–65 above 65 years old

(15–70 y/o)

Health conditions No special health needs Symptomatic diseases With special health needs

Exposure Fishing ground (annually) Rare occurrence of typhoons, Intermediate incidence of Frequented by typhoons,

storms, weather disturbances typhoons, storms, weather storms, weather disturbances

(0–1); 2 disturbances (3); 4 (5 above)

Household (annually) (0–1); 2 3; 4 More than 5 weather

disturbances

Frequency of storms/typhoons, No climate events 3–4; 5–6 More than 6 climate events

records of landslides and/or experienced; 1–2 experienced

ﬂash ﬂoods (annually)

Adaptive Capacity What is the annual income More than 80% of annual 40–59%; 20–39% Less than 20% came from

from ﬁshing? income is generated from ﬁshing

ﬁshing: 60–79%

Awareness No to little idea about the topic Moderately knows the topic Knows the topic very well

Access to information No sources of information; 1–2 3–4; 5–6 More than 6 sources of

information

Adaptive strategy No to insignificant Less but significant More and significant

precautionary measures precautionary measures precautionary measures

Literacy Out of school youth or High school College or vocational

elementary student/graduate graduate/student/skilled student/graduate

Gear modification/replacement No modification/No With some modification/With With full modification,

for the past 10 years knowledge/No resources knowledge/With limited knowledge, and re-sources

(budget) resources/Unsuccessful Successful

Climate change No climate change 2–3 climate change More than 4 climate change support/organization support/organization support/organization support/organization

Table 2

This study developed a tool that will complement VA-TURF

Potential impact scoring.

by providing effective data collection for assessing the poten-

tial impacts of climate change to commercial ﬁshery sectors or Potential Sensitivity

impact

commodities. The tool enables the identiﬁcation of ﬁsheries com-

modities and areas that are highly vulnerable to climate change,

L M H

which is important for the formulation of measures that will

Exposure L L L M

address the impacts of climate change on ﬁsheries and ensure

M L M H

sustainable livelihood and food security (Food and Agriculture H M H H

Organization (FAO), 2008).

Table 3

2. Methodology

Overall vulnerability index scoring.

Vulnerability Adaptive capacity

2.1. Development of Fish Vool and vulnerability map

L M H

The ﬁsheries vulnerability assessment tool (Fish Vool) was

Potential L M L L

developed following the key goal of VA (e.g., Allison et al., 2009;

impact M H M L

IPCC, 2001; Mamauag et al., 2013) to determine the vulner- H H H M

abilities of ﬁshery commodities or sectors of local municipal or

commercial landing sites. The tool was reﬁned using input and

validation from ﬁsheries and VA specialists of the University of

the Philippines—Marine Science Institute, National Agricultural and

(2013) (Tables 2 and 3). An open source geographic information

Fishery Council, and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources

system software (Quantum GIS v1.8 Lisboa) was used to pro-

(BFAR) regional representatives to eliminate unnecessary parame-

duce vulnerability maps of the target commodities. Scores of 1

ters and incorporate relevant components.

to 2 correspond to low vulnerability, and scores of 3 to 4 corre-

Key informants from General Santos and Zamboanga City were

spond to medium vulnerability; a score of 5 corresponds to high

interviewed and assessed in November 2012 and August 2013,

vulnerability (Table 4). The numerical values of each component

respectively, using a vulnerability matrix (Table 1). Data were ana-

were summed and translated using a rank system, in which point

lyzed using a simple semi-quantitative approach (Johnson and

class intervals correspond to low, medium, and high vulnerability

Welch, 2009; Mamauag et al., 2013), and scores calculated using

(Mamauag et al., 2013) (Table 5).

the cross-tabulation (Punnett square) method by Mamauag et al.

176 M.R. Jacinto et al. / Fisheries Research 161 (2015) 174–181

Fig. 1. Fish Vool study sites.

Table 4

ﬁshing wharfs in barangay Cawit, Zamboanga City were selected as

Vulnerability category.

study sites (Fig. 1) on the basis of data availability and productivity

Vulnerability category Score of tuna and sardine resource in the area, respectively. Fish produc-

tion in General Santos mainly consists of large pelagic ﬁshes such

Low 1–2

Medium 3–4 as yellowﬁn tuna and other scombrids, whereas Zamboanga City

High 5 is well known for the production of small epipelagic ﬁshes (i.e.,

sardines, round scads, and mackerels).

2.2. Selection of sectoral commodity sites 2.3. Key informant interview

The General Santos Fish Port Complex in barangay Tambler, Gen- Site selection was conducted in coordination with the BFAR

eral Santos and the Alberto Molina Requinto, Mega, and Universal Regional Ofﬁce and National Centers. During the site evaluation,

Table 5

Point class interval and corresponding rank classiﬁcations for the three major components.

Major Number of Minimum total Maximum total Point class interval (score to rank

Components variables score possible score possible system conversion)

Exposure 3 3 15 3–7 Low (L) 8–11 Medium (M) 12–15 High (H)

Sensitivity 4 4 20 4–9 Low (L) 10–15 Medium (M) 16–20 High (H)

Adaptive capacity 7 7 35 7–17 Low (L)18–27 Medium (M)28–35 High (H)

M.R. Jacinto et al. / Fisheries Research 161 (2015) 174–181 177

key informants were interviewed using questions focusing on cli- 2011). Records of landslides or ﬂashﬂoods in the community were

mate events they observed within the municipality in the past years collected from local leaders (city or province).

and the subsequent effects and adaptation measures developed.

Key informants included representatives of occupational groups 3.1.2. Sensitivity variables for all sub-components

(e.g., fisher folks and households) with at least 20 years of fishing 3.1.2.1. Length at first maturity. The age or size at onset of mat-

experience. uration, and growth rate are important stock parameters for the

assessment and prediction of exploited ﬁsh species. Rapidly grow-

ing individuals attain maturity at lower ages and thus have shorter

3. Results and discussion

average lengths (Godo and Haug, 1999). This variable is validated

through the National Stock Assessment Program, which provides

3.1. Fish Vool and VA-TURF

the only time-series ﬁsheries data in the Philippines that includes

information on maximum sustainable yield and total allowable

The framework for the development of Fish Vool is consistent

catch. This information is used to determine closed seasons, ﬁsh

with that used for VA-TURF, which deﬁnes vulnerability as the com-

sanctuaries, endangered species, and ﬁshing vessel regulation.

bined effects of exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity (Fig. 2).

Although both Fish Vool and VA-TURF produce vulnerability maps,

3.1.2.2. Catch comparison. Trends or changes in catch rate over the

VA-TURF targets the coastal integrity and reef ecosystem of an

years may show the effects of ﬁshing. In this variable, catch rate

area, whereas Fish Vool focuses on the commercial ﬁsheries sec-

refers to the difference between the total catch by weight (kg) of

tors. Vulnerability maps aid the local and national government in

the present catch of ﬁshers and that from at least 20 years ago. Data

identifying areas and commodities that are vulnerable to climate

were collected from ﬁshers’ historical accounts from interviews.

change and need prioritization for adaptation options.

Decreasing catch rate coupled with increasing number of small,

The deﬁnitions of the major vulnerability components were

immature ﬁshes in the catch indicates high sensitivity of the ﬁsh

adopted from Licuanan et al. (2012). Exposure is a measure of the

stocks. Given that large-sized species are intensively targeted and

intensity or severity of the physical environment conditions that

thus reduced in number before smaller ones (Pauly et al., 1998;

affect the present state of the biophysical system. Sensitivity is

Mamauag et al., 2013), the rates and process of potential recovery

illustrated by the present state of the system based on the spe-

of the ﬁsh stocks in the community structure can be determined on

ciﬁc properties that respond to the exposure factors arising from

the basis of change in catch composition (Jennings, 2001).

climate changes. Adaptive capacity refers to resiliency or the abil-

ity of the system to cope with the impacts associated with the

3.1.2.3. Socio-economics. Information on socio-economic condi-

changes in climate. The components are further divided into three

tions is essential because people’s capacities (i.e., income, number

sub-components, namely, ﬁsh, human, and community (Fig. 2).

of family members, household age structure, health conditions,

In VA-TURF, the components are subdivided into ﬁsheries, reef

etc.) determine their ability to cope with extreme weather events

ecosystem, and socio-economics. Each sub-component has corre-

(Blaikie et al., 1994; Pelling, 2003; Reganit, 2005). Given that

sponding variables or criteria relevant for evaluating the major

ﬁshers are considered the poorest of the poor sectors in the

components (i.e., exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity). The

Philippines (Castro, 2009) and thus the most vulnerable sector

criteria for each sub-component are outlined and discussed below.

to climate change (Williams and Rota, 2009), knowledge on the

Low potential impact (exposure and sensitivity) values indicate low

socio-economics of ﬁsheries with regard to climate change and its

vulnerability, whereas low adaptive capacity values indicate high

impacts, adaptation, and mitigation is a pivotal tool for guiding pol-

vulnerability to climate change (e.g., Allison et al., 2009; Johnson

icy makers and program implementers on how to fully prepare the

and Welch, 2009; Mamauag et al., 2013). Thus, a good biophysical

country for climate change.

system has low potential impact and high adaptive capacity values.

3.1.2.4. Dependence on resource. This criterion provides informa-

3.1.1. Exposure variables for all sub-components

tion on the importance of ﬁsheries to their household and the

3.1.1.1. Fishing ground. This criterion examines the frequency and

well-being of the community. Fishers with sources of income other

severity of exposure of ﬁshing grounds to extreme weather dis-

than ﬁshing are less sensitive to the effects of climate change. High

turbances. VA-TURF uses wave exposure as the exposure variable,

sensitivity attributes to higher number of ﬁshers who depend on

which is derived using the Wave Exposure Model software by the

the resource (Mamauag et al., 2013).

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). By con-

trast, Fish Vool uses qualitative data from perception surveys of

3.1.3. Adaptive capacity variables for all sub-components

ﬁshers who have been ﬁshing for at least 20 years. Weather pertur-

3.1.3.1. Gear modiﬁcation. Fishing gear modiﬁcation or replace-

bations, such as typhoons and storms, and increased sea surface

ment is a measure of the ﬁshers’ adaptive capacity for a more

temperatures in the ﬁshing grounds act as physical stressors to

effective ﬁshing effort. A ﬁsher with resources (budget), knowledge,

ﬁshes, which may result in disturbance and migration (IPCC, 2007;

and successfully modiﬁed ﬁshing gear will achieve higher catch

Santos et al., 2011). Thus, catch rate may decrease during frequent

rates, save fuel and time in ﬁshing activities, and possess higher

occurrences of these events.

adaptive capacity.

3.1.1.2. Household or community site assessment. This criterion 3.1.3.2. Adaptive strategies. Adaptive strategies refer to the precau-

measures the degree of exposure of a ﬁsher’s household or commu- tionary measures undertaken by the ﬁshers before, during, and

nity to weather disturbances (i.e., tropical storms, extreme rainfall, after extreme weather events. More and signiﬁcant adaptive meas-

storm surges, sea level rise, etc.). Frequent occurrences of these ures indicate high adaptive capacity.

climate events affect the safety and efﬁciency of ﬁshing opera-

tions because ﬁshers are unlikely to ﬁsh during storms, indicating 3.1.3.3. Level of awareness. Level of awareness refers to the extent

high exposure (Santos et al., 2011). Furthermore, extreme events of knowledge of ﬁshers on climate change and its impacts to their

increase damage and disruptions to coastal and riparian homes, livelihood. The high awareness of ﬁshers to climate change can be

services, and infrastructure (Williams and Rota, 2009; Santos et al., translated into capacity building, planning, and piloting activities.

178 M.R. Jacinto et al. / Fisheries Research 161 (2015) 174–181

Fig. 2. Conceptual Framework for the development of Fish Vool.

The authors intentionally separated the level of awareness and lit- income; hence, adaptive capacity will depend considerably on the

eracy of ﬁshermen as a measure of their adaptive capacity because knowledge and skill of the person (e.g., Cabral and Alino,˜ 2011;

some out-of-school youth ﬁshers are more aware of the impacts of Muallil et al., 2011; Marshall et al., 2012; Mamauag et al., 2013).

climate change in their livelihood than those who attained higher Fishers with college or vocational degrees have higher adap-

education. tive capacity than those who are out-of-school youth or elementary

graduates.

3.1.3.4. Literacy. The ﬁsher’s literacy determines their ability to

ﬁnd other income-generating livelihoods. Supplemental liveli- 3.1.3.5. Community support system. The high adaptive capacity of

hoods that are accessible to ﬁshers and may increase cumulative a community may be attributed to the strong community support

M.R. Jacinto et al. / Fisheries Research 161 (2015) 174–181 179

Table 6

Vulnerability indices of tuna and sardine sectors to climate change in selected landing sites in General Santos and Zamboanga City.

VA components Parameters Tuna sector in General Santos Sardine sector in Zamboanga City

Score Subtotal Score Subtotal

Exposure Fishing ground L L M L

Household L L

Sensitivity Catch comparison M M M M

Age structure L L

Dependence on resource H H

Health conditions L L

Adaptive Capacity Awareness L L L L

Sources of CC information L L

Strategies L L

Literacy M M

Overall Vulnerability Index M M

Legend: L = low, M = medium, H = high vulnerability.

systems or programs for climate change. These support systems 3.2. Vulnerabilities of tuna and sardine sectors

or programs usually include seminars, workshops, and training

that inform and educate people on the current issues of climate Fifty local ﬁshermen were interviewed at selected landing

change and how they can deal with the impacts through adapta- sites, of which 25 were from General Santos and 25 were from

tion, risk reduction, and diversiﬁcation of livelihood (e.g., Songcuan Zamboanga City. The vulnerability indices for tuna in General

and Santos, 2013). Data from this variable were collected from local Santos and sardines in Zamboanga City indicate medium overall

leaders (i.e., city or provincial agriculturist ofﬁcer). vulnerability (Table 6 and Fig. 3). Medium sensitivity and low adap-

tive capacity values (Table 6) indicate that the tuna and sardine

resources in General Santos and Zamboanga City are vulnerable

3.1.3.6. Access to information. The ﬁsher’s ability to cope with the to climate change. This ﬁnding suggests that the effects of cli-

disasters brought about by climate change depends on their acces- mate change vary in different areas and depend on the nature

sibility to climate-related knowledge through different means (i.e., and level of resource dependency of the community. Thus, speciﬁc

TV, radio, newspaper, internet, school, etc.). and more localized management measures or adaptive strate-

gies should be developed for each area. The sardine sector in

Zamboanga City is more vulnerable to climate change than the

tuna sector in General Santos because of the high exposure of

3.1.3.7. Annual income from ﬁshing. Livelihood income from ﬁshing

the ﬁshing grounds to localized typhoons, which makes ﬁshing

is a common indicator that characterizes the economic proﬁle of a

difﬁcult or even prohibits ﬁshing operations. Hence, policy mak-

community (e.g., Muallil et al., 2011; Mamauag et al., 2013). A high-

ers and program implementers should invest more on programs

average income generated from ﬁshing indicates a lower capacity of

(e.g., livelihood and climate change awareness) that reduce the

the community to adapt to climate change stressors. A community

dependence of sardine ﬁshers and other stakeholders in the sardine

has higher adaptive capacity if most of the livelihood income of the

sector.

people is derived from supplemental livelihoods or other sources.

Fig. 3. Vulnerability map of sardine and tuna sectors of barangay Cawit, Zamboanga City and barangay Tambler, General Santos.

180 M.R. Jacinto et al. / Fisheries Research 161 (2015) 174–181

3.2.1. Tuna in General Santos Muallil et al., 2011). Accordingly, the local government units (LGUs)

The exposure value for General Santos is low (Table 6), which in the area coordinate with BFAR IX for livelihood support services

indicates a low exposure to the impacts of climate change. Out to provide trainings and seminars for the ﬁsherfolk.

of the 25 local ﬁshermen interviewed, 92% live in disaster-free

areas and 62% have disaster-free ﬁshing grounds. These ﬁndings 4. Conclusions

are supported by the 50-year storm trajectory record of NOAA,

which shows that Mindanao, the region where the study sites are The results revealed that the tuna and sardine sectors in Gen-

located, has not experienced any tropical storm for more than ﬁve eral Santos and Zamboanga City, respectively, are vulnerable to

decades. No incidences of landslides and ﬂash ﬂoods in the com- climate change. Considering that General Santos and Zamboanga

munity have been reported. However, the city was struck by two City are the tuna and sardine capitals of the Philippines, appro-

strong typhoons, Sendong and Pablo, on December 16, 2011 and priate management measures should be promoted in these areas

December 3 2012, respectively. Additionally, approximately 77% for sustainable food production and security. VA is only an ini-

of the interviewed ﬁshers associate the difﬁculty in catching tuna tial part of integrating CCA into development planning, and the

with high temperatures because tuna feed deeper during warm key step toward climate-resilient development is the identiﬁca-

days. An increase in temperature will cause a stronger thermocline tion and implementation of adaptation options. These adaptation

that limits water mixing between cold deeper waters and warm options are often enhancements to already existing initiatives,

shallower waters, which in turn causes a decline in primary produc- such as providing alternative livelihoods for sardine ﬁshers during

tivity (Gribbin, 1988; Papua New Guinea and Paciﬁc Islands Country closed seasons, integrating climate change into the ﬁsheries pol-

Unit and the World Bank, 2000). In tropical regions, an increase icy frameworks, strengthening the capacity of the ﬁsheries sector

in surface water temperature coupled with the decrease in pri- for adaptation to climate change, among others. High exposure and

mary productivity may cause tuna populations to migrate toward sensitivity to climate variability necessitate more diverse and efﬁ-

higher latitudes (Lehodey et al., 1997). This distribution may slowly cient adaptation strategies. Between the sardine and tuna sectors,

deplete the stocks in the tropics. LGUs should prioritize the development of adaptation strategies for

Furthermore, 85% of the respondents experienced decreasing the sardine industry. Moreover, Fish Vool proved to be a useful tool

catch rate over the years as reﬂected on their sensitivity score. for assessing the climate change vulnerabilities of the tuna and sar-

According to statistics, the volume of tuna production in General dine sectors in General Santos and Zamboanga City and shows great

Santos decreased by 15% from 2008 to 2012 (Bureau of Agricultural potential for CCA mainstreaming (e.g., Santos et al., 2011; Mamauag

Statistics (BAS), 2012). The majority of local ﬁshers greatly depend et al., 2013).

on the tuna industry for their livelihood; only 8% of the respondents Considering that 50 local ﬁshermen do not represent the whole

have alternative livelihoods and other sources of income. population of tuna and sardine ﬁshers in the area, we recommend

Adaptive capacity in General Santos is fairly low. Among the a larger sampling size for exhaustive data collection. The tool may

respondents, 85% are unaware of the impacts of climate change also be used for other ﬁsheries commodities. The study shall be

in their livelihood, 92% have no sources of climate change-related continued to reﬁne Fish Vool for the conduct of regional and sector-

information, and 77% have no adaptive strategies. Additionally, based VAs by all BFAR regional ofﬁces and centers in the country.

approximately 55% of the entire income of the community is gener-

ated from tuna ﬁsheries, indicating high dependence on the sector Acknowledgments

and thus higher vulnerability. However, the current development in

agriculture (i.e., production of pineapple, durian, etc.) has increased

We thank the National Fisheries Research and Development

in General Santos, thereby relieving the pressure on the tuna indus-

Institute (NFRDI) for funding the study, especially Dir. Melchor

try caused by ﬁshing activity and climate change to some extent.

Tayamen and Noel Barut for their support on the project. We also

thank the Genetic Fingerprinting Laboratory of NFRDI for providing

3.2.2. Sardines in Zamboanga City

relevant inputs in developing the tool. We gratefully appreciate the

Although located in Mindanao, Zamboanga City has higher

assistance given by Ming, Sam, and Mangi of BFAR XII and Mads,

exposure values than General Santos because most of the ﬁshing

Pedling, and Saj of BFAR IX in the project logistics and conduct of

grounds are frequently impacted by localized typhoons. Accord- interviews.

ing to the climate projections of the Philippine Atmospheric,

Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA)

Appendix A. Supplementary data

(2013) in Zamboanga City, the projected seasonal temperature,

rainfall, and frequency of extreme events has increased. The local

Supplementary material related to this article can be

ﬁshers and community are already experiencing these changes,

found, in the online version, at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/

especially the progressing rainfall and increase in temperature.

j.ﬁshres.2014.07.007.

Moreover, 88% of the interviewed ﬁshermen reported

decreasing catch rates over the past 20 years because of the

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