purely fresh.Due tosaltwaterintrusion,the remainder of Olangoand even then,lessthan10%ofthese are of theisland.Manywells arelocatedinthecenter in theisland.Manyofwells arelocatedinthecenter consumed locallyasafoodstaple. do well.Cassavaisoneexception anditismainly outcroppings protrudealloverthelandscape.Fewcrops in anextremelyhot,dryclimate.Jaggedlimestone Hence, thereisverylittleterrestrialvegetationresulting limestone bedrockandaverythinlayeroftopsoil. 10 metersabovesealevel),Olangoisflatwithahard low-lying coralisland(thehighestpointbarelyreaching Project (CRMP)whichstartedworkthereinJuly1996. a learningareaoftheCoastalResourceManagement Olango (includingthesurroundingislets)wasselectedas their naturalpotentialwouldpermit.Forthisreason, past yearsandarecurrentlynotnearlyasproductive Unfortunately, theseresourceshavebeenundersiegein habitats, partofwhichisanationalbirdsanctuary. Olango iscomprisedofdiversecoastalandmarine seagrass beds,andmangroves.Morethanhalfof extensive intertidalmudflats,widefringingcoralreefsand with itssurroundingisletstothesouth,isknownfor Island,.Thislow-lyinglimestoneisland, Freshwater isscarce.Thereare noriversorstreams The topographyofOlangoisveryrugged.Beinga Olango Islandislocatedfivekilometerseastof THECHALLENGESANDOPPORTUNITIES May 1998 RESOUCE MANAGEMENTIN OLANGO ISLAND,CEBU: Learning AreaCoordinator—OlangoIsland,Cebu Continued onpage 3 Diane AntoinetteParras Maria FePortigo CRM Coordinator Alan White CRMP CRMP CRMP Intern and fashioned bythe participants themselves. estimate thespace eachkindoccupieswithinaquadrat thatis PCRA participants identifythedifferentseagrassesand tryto

No. 4 ISSN 0118-4687 contents Tambuli—A Newsletter for editorial Coastal Management Practitioners sanctuaries could attract paying divers and is on its fourth issue. Our circulation is now snorkelers billeted at the many hotels on more than 1,500 and our extra copies are Mactan Island or from the growing Cebu City ARTICLES usually gone several months after printing. We population looking for day trips out of the Resource Management in are increasing the number printed to 3,000. The city. This is only the tip of the iceberg, so to Olango Island, Cebu: The demand for information on integrated coastal speak. Olango Island has a large (1,000 ha) Challenges and management is, indeed, increasing in the wetland and bird habitat area which is a Opportunities ...... 1 and worldwide. We are trying to national park. It is one of a kind in the Cleansing the Seas: fill an expanding niche and we are extremely Philippines and offers tremendous experiences Strategies to Combat pleased with the response so far. We get many for bird watchers, kyakers, hikers and others Cyanide Fishing in the positive comments but we also need good interested in outdoor experiences. This kind Indo-Pacific Region ...... 9 articles and news items to broaden our of tourism is low-impact and can bring Philippine Fisheries Code: coverage of the country and some substantial revenue to the island. A parallel Something Old... international events. We really encourage you, challenge is to make sure that island Something New... our readers, to send in useful material. And, if communities can tap into this tourism trade Something Better? ...... 16 your writing skills are lacking, do not worry, and interest. Banacon, the First Mangrove our editorial staff is willing to assist with As you can surmise, Olango Island Community- based corrections and improvements! represents many Philippine coastal areas. Forestry Management Area Olango Island and its coastal resources Another thread that connects Olango to the in a Protected Area ...... 24 are analyzed in the lead article of this issue. world is fishing for aquarium fish, the theme Olango Island represents one of the worst case of the second article in this issue. Unknown TECHNO-PACK scenarios of coastal management challenges Lobster Farming ...... 27 to many, Olango is the home of many aquarium in the Philippines. As the article describes, it fish gatherers, some of whom have the dubious LEADERSHIP MODELS is an over-populated island with communities reputation of using sodium cyanide in their too dependent on coastal resources for Nong Denciong and fishing operations. To do this, they often use sustenance. The result is that the fisheries are His Legacy ...... 30 what is called a compressor fishing rig which severely depleted, the coral reefs are in poor enables them to stay at the bottom longer, go NEWS condition, an increasing state of poverty is deeper and catch more fish than they could if Development of SimCoastTM evident and the alternatives for livelihood are they were only free diving. Although, I do Continues ...... 32 not obvious or easy. Olango Island is one of not want to make enemies here, I would like to Three Cheers for Caliling, the six “learning areas” of the Coastal Resource raise the questions about why compressor Cauayan, Negros Management Project. In many ways, it may fishing is allowed in the Philippines and not in Occidental ...... 33 be the most difficult learning area because of many other countries? It is also ironic that the Malang, Indonesia Hosted the deep-seated problems. Yet, where there is Philippines has the distinct reputation of International Symposium a challenge, there are people trying to find exporting cyanide-laced fish which were for Agenda 21 solutions and indeed some exist. mostly caught using compressors. In Strategy ...... 34 Olango is surrounded, first of all, by a countries where compressors are not used, large and potentially rich coral reef complex. such as in Sri Lanka, there is also no use of UPDATES The coral reefs and their fisheries could supply cyanide. This correlation may not necessarily Enterprising Olango ...... 35 a sizable amount of food and income to people hold true for the Philippines but we can at CRMP’s Mangrove on the island if managed properly. In fact, least raise the question and discourage more Management Component more than 20 tons of edible marine organisms use of compressors by aquarium fishers. Begins Pilot Operations could be captured from one square kilometer Proponents of compressors will say that in ...... 36 of reef area if sustainable approaches were it will not be possible to catch fish without Philippine Navy, Coast used. Instead, Olango reefs probably provide them. This may be true in the Philippine Guard and BFAR Awarded only about 5 tons of edible catch rather than context, but in places where the reefs are not for Coup ...... 37 20 because of past and present destructive so overfished, aquarium quality fish can still Sharing ICM Experience fishing activities, overfishing and a lack of be captured in shallow water using hand nets. from Rhode Island ...... 37 sanctuaries or areas where no fishing is With this in mind, maybe we should rethink allowed. If good management practices could CRM HOTLINE our management strategy for aquarium fish be installed, fish catch might increase more capture in the Philippines—only a thought! I Saving the Whale Sharks than two-fold. Hence, the potential positive did not mention any names or organizations! and Manta Rays ...... 38 return—and the challenge, for of course, to Your thoughts and comments on these Mangrove Cutting is Now do this, the people affected must be willing to subjects are welcome! Please send your Allowed... in CBFM change their ways, make some choices and contributions to the Editor of Tambuli. This is areas! ...... 40 work together. one way we can spread our experiences and More opportunities emanate from this INFORMATION SECTION ideas so others can learn from them. We look situation. Examples are the increased forward to hearing from you! References ...... 41 opportunity for coral reef tourism if the reefs Upcoming Events ...... 42 were better protected. A few good marine Editor

2 Challenges from page 1 are either brackish or completely saltwater. Some islanders collect rainwater for their freshwater needs. The surrounding islets have even less water and rely on Olango for the little freshwater Baring Tinggo that is available. The residents of

Pangan-an pay as much as P5 Cao-oy

($0.15) per gallon unlike in other Talima areas where the rate is as low as P0.50. Tungasan Santa Rosa Olango is composed of 11 barangays (villages), 8 belonging to Lapu-Lapu City of Mactan, and San Vicente 3 to Cordova (Figure 1). The total population is approximately Sabang 20,000, consisting of an estimated 4,000 households. Population l Olango Island e n Wildlife Sanctuary density is high and earnings are n Sulpa Island a typically low. h Camungi C Island n a g There is one hospital and one n tu l lu e post office in Olango but no i n H n a general marketplace. Almost all h C commodities must be brought in Pangan- an Island o g n from mainland Cebu. Gasoline is Lapu-Lapu la sold in liter soda bottles. Electric- O Legend Hilutungan Island ity is available for only a few Caohagan seagrass hours each evening. Most Island Cordova Nalasuan tidal flats islanders are without toilet Island facilities. Educational level is low, mangroves with less than 10% of the resi- coral reefs dents completing high school, and rocky shore about 80% attaining only some municipal sanctuary level of elementary education. national There is one high school in sanctuary Santa Rosa, and as no reef edge public transportation is available, students from distant barangays Figure 1. Map of the Olango Learning Area. must pay for a tricycle ride which many find too expensive. On the eastern side of Olango, Fishing methods vary from one facing Bohol, where deeper water is community to another. Traditional Roughly 76% of Olango’s closer to shore, spearfishers use hook and line fishing takes place in residents are engaged in fishing of compressed air supplied from the Tingo. Spearfishers using hookah one kind or another. During low tide, surface (hookah) to hunt for various are found around barangays Caw-oy while boats are grounded, fisherfolk reef species, including parrotfish, and Tingo to the north. Other fishers take to the shallows on foot, snappers and groupers which they here use panggal or bamboo traps gleaning the seagrass and algal beds market in Cebu. Prices range from placed on the reef flats. Tingo for shells, starfish, sea cucumbers P35 ($0.94) per kilogram for eels, P80 residents are also engaged in the live and sea urchins, or netting for tiny ($2.16) for snappers and parrot fish, reef fish trade, while a few Caw-oy baitfish which they place in small and up to P 120 ($3.24) per kilogram residents employ floating cages for bamboo traps to catch eels and small for the more priced species, such as grow-out of higher value species like fish. Shells and starfish are used for large groupers or rabbitfish. Prices groupers. Aquarium fishers, some the craft/curio market while sea may vary significantly according to using cyanide, live predominantly in cucumbers and sea urchins are sold weather conditions and availability Santa Rosa, San Vicente and Sabang, to the mainland for sale to restau- of species. Sometimes hookah divers while blast fishing takes place rants. The others are either con- will also collect deep-water shells virtually all over. Starfish gathering sumed locally or sold to the main- which have a very high market value. is concentrated in San Vicente in the land as food. west, while abalone collection

3 centers around Tungasan to the CRMP’s six learning areas. It is also $10 M to the Philippine economy. east. one of the most challenging. This high demand provides the incentive for relying on sodium Shellcraft, on the hand, is Coastal Resource Management cyanide. Similarly, catch volume and widespread. Interestingly, due to a Issues associated returns from blast fishing lack of materials around Olango, make this method more desirable to many of the shells used for this trade The main problems cited by fishers than more traditional tech- come from other islands, such as Olango residents and others are niques. Bohol, Caubian, Siquijor or Palawan. destructive and illegal fishing Traders from the mainland furnish methods (cyanide and blast fishing Because of the prolonged use of the islanders with supplies. The and coral extraction). Issues destructive methods such as blast shells are then fashioned into concerning the bird sanctuary are and cyanide fishing around Olango, chandeliers, place mats and other commonly voiced by both residents fisherfolk have to travel farther and home decorations which are then and DENR officials, but for different farther away from their own waters sent back to the mainland to be sold reasons, reflecting various perspec- to catch anything of substantial in tourist markets or exported. tives and values. High population value. Consequently, fishers from Although traditionally, Olango Other residents were fishers, as many still Farming 49% 1% Unskilled labor Php 473.00 are today, overharvesting has (domestic worker, Php 442.00 boat asst., etc.) forced some people to take up new 6% occupations: small sari-sari Php 896.00

(convenience) store owners, Skilled labor (carpenter, boat/tricycle driver) tricycle drivers, wood gatherers or 5% water suppliers and occasional Php 2,283.00 boatmen for tourists (Figure 2). Business (sari-sari Fishing & store owner, etc.) Fishing-related 11% combined Located in the Southern Php 2,250.00 62%* portion of Olango Island is the Php 1,500.00 Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary Salary (gov’t or private agency employee) (OIWS), recognized as a critical 12% stopover for tens of thousands of Php 2,805.00 birds travelling the East Asian Migratory Flyway. Included in *The percent of residents these bi-annual travellers are a engaged in fishing may be greater than the percent number of endangered (e.g. recorded here. Limnodromus semipalmatus or Figure 2. Sources of Livelihood in Olango and the Income Derived from Each. asiatic dowitcher, Egretta eulophotes or Chinese egret) and threatened (e.g. Numenius sp. or density, low education, lack of Olango are notorious for being eastern curlew) species. The 920 freshwater, lack of a waste disposal nomadic and for utilizing destructive hectares of tidal flats, mangroves, system, intrusion of commercial methods, particularly cyanide, in seagrass beds and sandy ridges trawlers, and lack of alternative 0Negros, Siquijor, Leyte, Samar and were officially declared a sanctuary livelihood are some of the other as far as northern Indonesia. in 1992 and is managed by the issues contributing to the degrada- Department of Environment and tion of Olango’s resource base. Open access to fisheries. Natural Resources (DENR), under Another major issue cited by the policies set forth by the Pro- Destructive fishing practices. residents, especially around Pangan- tected Area Management Board Most of the fisherfolk are poor. an Island, is the encroachment of (PAMB). The OIWS has the unique Oftentimes, children quit school to trawlers in their municipal waters. distinction of being the first and help their family fish or glean to earn Fishing boats larger than three gross only Ramsar Site in the Philippines. a living, or simply eat. From this tons can reap in one evening a The Ramsar Convention is the critical viewpoint, fishers are forced month’s worth of fish catch to a world’s oldest international-multilat- to use whatever methods produce small-scale fisher. In the past, when eral conservation treaty in which the highest catch, although they are a certain trawler entered the island’s signatory countries designate and aware of the damage caused by territorial waters, Sabang and protect wetlands of international some of these methods. For Pangan-an fishers flocked to the importance especially waterfowl instance, the Philippines alone Save Nature Society (SNS) Field habitat. supplies up to 80% of the world’s Station in Sabang to ask CRMP’s ornamental fish for the aquarium staff to contact the Coast Guard for Encompassing all of 1,041 market. The trade is worth more than assistance. The Coast Guard tried to hectares, Olango is the smallest of stop the trawler but was inhibited by

4 its political connections. Reportedly, ment. As tourism islanders resort to blast fishing in a enterprises devel- desperate measure to harvest the oped in recent years, resources of their own waters rather local equity is than have the commercial trawlers notably lacking. benefit. Local communities Similar to the open access issue claimed that they for fisheries is non-compensation for were not consulted use of resources. Tour operators regarding the from Mactan Island bring visitors to establishment of the Olango’s waters, particularly those Olango Island around Hilutungan Island, to scuba Wildlife Sanctuary. dive in the marine sanctuary. These Today, they assert a Starfish being dried for the curio market. guests are not required to pay an lack of benefits from engaged in CRM efforts to help entrance fee for use of the island’s its existence. address the issues plaguing Olango reefs. Furthermore, fishing blatantly There are two sides to this and to provide long-term, viable takes place inside the sanctuary and story. The Philippines needs viable solutions. islanders have no means of patrol- parks and sanctuaries for its rich ling the waters and enforcing biodiversity; at the same time, In April 1997, the Olango restrictions. residents need to benefit from a Synergy Group was created, with sanctuary designation. Unlike members from different sectors Poverty and alienation. The today, fisherfolk once traversed the including local government units average monthly family income in area to reach their fishing grounds or (LGU), national government agen- Olango is as low P450 ($12.16) for to glean. While the preserve is cies (DENR, Department of Agricul- unskilled laborers and P1,500 touted as being potentially beneficial ture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic ($40.54) for fishers (Figure 2). There to the residents, to them it is not. Resources or DA-BFAR), CRMP, are not many opportunities for Still, the significance of the site as a non-government organizations employment. Because of the critical habitat for migratory and (NGO) such as the SNS, the Univer- historical dependence of Olango resident bird sity of San Carlos (USC) and various populations church and youth groups. The cannot be purpose of the group is to share dismissed. information to prevent overlapping Clearly, a of activities and to determine the compromise best plan of action for development between the in Olango. As part of their informa- needs of the tion, education and communication residents and the drive, the Olango Synergy Group necessity to conducted an “information caravan” protect this in all the barangays. The event unique and consisted of audio-visual presenta- environmentally tions on CRM issues and discus- sensitive area sions on potential alternative must be sought. economic activities for the island. Members of the Women’s organization illustrating the village of Suba, In January 1998, a group Sabang in Olango Island during the worshop on Tour Itenerary CRM Planning Development. and Implementa- comprised of Lapu-Lapu city council tion in Olango members, Olango barangay officials residents on their coastal resources, and CRMP’s facilitators embarked on together with a growing population, Olango Island residents have an observation and study tour of depletion and destruction of these seen the beginnings of coastal Apo Island and Bais Bay, two resources continue to rise sharply. resource management (CRM) in protected areas in Negros Oriental. Other contributing factors include years past and now it is starting to The object of the tour was for low education levels and lack of take hold. Different entities are policy-makers to observe and participation in the island’s develop- appreciate the value of a marine

5 Funding: Information: Tech. Support: Essential - LGUs - Existing - USC Inputs - CRM P Database - DENR - NGAs - PCRA data - DOH (DENR, and maps - NGOs DOT, etc.) - Profile - CRM P - NGO’s

Coordination CRM Committee: Support and Facilitation - LGU’s (Lapu-lapu City Council, Mechanisms: Olango brgy. representatives.) - PCRA mapping - DENR - Planning workshops - FARM C (island-wide federation) - Enterprise testing - Agriculture Officers (Lapu-lapu and implementation City & municipality) - Education inputs - OIWS PAMB & PASU - Legal & institutional - Bantay Dagat Structure - NGO'S (SNS, IMA, PSHF) - Community organizing - Academe (USC) - Training - DOT/PTA Region 7 representatives - Religious groups - PO’s (Youth, Women's Fisherfolk, vendors) - Private sector (resort owners)

Planning Zoning for: Fishery Enterprise: Education: and - Fishing/ Regulations: - Tourism - Basic ecology Implemen- gleaning - Law Enforcement - Seaweed - Policy and law tation - Seaweed - Limited Access farming enforcement farming - Usage fees - Fish cage (i.e. citizen’s arrest) - Fish cages - Licensing culture - Family planning - Tourism - Zoning - Handicrafts - Resource - Sanctuary Closed/open management - Other seasons and conservation developments - Values formation - Anchoring

- Reduced - Reduced illegal - Equity sharing - Community Desired conflicts between fishing activities Alternate empowerment Results/ gov’t agencies - Residents livelihood/source - Instilled sense Outputs (i.e. DOT & managing and of income of stewardship DENR) and benefitting from Integrates the - Residents resource users the resources community given a choice - Best economic - M arine resources - Takes pressure due to increased & environmental to recovered of the natural awareness (i.e. use of areas - Reduced conflicts stocks Slowing population growth, making sound develop- ment decision)

DENR Department of Environment & Natural Resources OIWS Olango Island W ildlife Society DOH Department of Health PAMB Protected Area Management Board DOT Department of Tourism PASU Protected Area Superintendent FARMC Fisheries & Aquatic Resource management PO People's Organization IMA International Marine Life Alliance PSHF Philippine Self-help Foundation LGU Local Government Unit PTA Philippine Tourism Authority NGA National Government Agency SNS Save Nature Society NGO Non-government Organization USC University of San Carlos, Marine Biology Section

FIGURE 3. COASTAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PROCESS IN OLANGO.

6 sanctuary as a valid management The PCRA aims to mobilize the record and present their finding and tool in considering management local community to be actively ultimately construct a detailed map options for Olango. Participants involve in assesing their own of their barangay. Habitats are were very impressed with the resources and in looking at ways to designated with color codes, success of the management effort in better manage these resources. resources with arabic numbers, uses these two sites and went home with Participants are a cross-section of with letters, issues and problems talk on marine reserves abounding. the community that includes with roman numerals. This provides But implementation of marine barangay officials, leaders and a good information base from which sanctuaries is not the cure-all. It members of youth and women’s potential CRM plans can be drawn. must be accompanied by a clear group and fisherfolk. CRMP staff, Benefits from the PCRA are proccess which involves community representatives of the DA, DENR, many, accumulating information and input and stewardship, efforts to IMA and marine biologist from the guiding communities towards CRM phase out destructive fishing USC facilitate the PCRA. planning and implementation. PCRA practices and exploration of alterna- Before the actual PCRA, results are being incorporated into tive livelihood options. As some participants are presented with the the coastal area profile presently Olango residents pointed out, the basic steps. being compiled by the University of issues in Olango are more complex San Carlos. Not only does this data than those in island communities like • Gathering documented provide baseline information Apo and Bais Bay. information - This includes necessary for planning and future the kind of information which At the end of 1997, a team of resource monitoring and assess- may be relevant and where trainers and community development ment, it enables the residents these information can be workers from the International themselves to evaluate CRM issues, obtained. Marinelife Alliance (IMA) entered and constraints in Olango. One of the next steps is to form community the community to teach fishers • Conducting interview(s) - groups and make recommendations alternative method of catching fish. This involves gathering of specific to each site, such as the This technology transfer is aimed to socio-economic information passing of appropriate resolutions help both cyanide and blast fishers. by interviewing. Some 300 ornamental fish collectors and enterprise development. have been identified, most of them • Assessing habitats - This Enterprise Development from San Vicente and Santa Rosa. At entails the study of various the initial training course held in habitats (mangrove, seagrass The goal of enterprise work in September 1997, over 90 aquarium and coral reefs) and a descrip Olango is to help conserve two fish collectors were trained in the tion of their current status unique and critical coastal environ- use of the barrier net method. These (species and abundance). ments: the Olango Island Wildlife workshops are on-going, and a Sanctuary and the Hilutungan series of similar training courses are • Mapping - All information that Marine Sanctuary. This can be done targeted for an additional 250 live had been gathered are by establishing enterprises that fish collectors in priority areas. IMA presented on the base map of enhance the way local residents use the site. also has a training program for blast their coastal resources in strategi- fishers in the use of hook and line • Diagramming - Factors most cally positioned communities. The techniques. relevant to the community and enterprises are site specific and which occur seasonally; commodity or product specific. For The over all CRM planning trends over a period of time; instance, enterprise activities in process has been facilitated by as well as the profile of the Sabang are focused on ecotourism CRMP in collaboration with the local area are illustrated as dia development in the wildlife sanctu- government. Two of the many CRM- grams. ary, with fishers, youth and women related activities are the conduct of identified as beneficiaries. In participatory coastal resource To date, more than 100 Olango Pangan-an Island, enterprise is assessment (PCRA) and enterprise residents have participated in actual centered around seaweed farming development. site assessments with the different and is aimed at converting blast Participatory Coastal Resource groups surveying mangroves, fishers and coral extractors to Assessment seagrass beds and coral reefs, and become partners in conservation. In conducting interviews. Participants Hilutungan, ventures will include

7 seaweed farming as well as participation. It is hoped that an non-government and educational ecotourism to encourage upkeep of increased level of awareness about entities, volunteers from various the marine sanctuary. San Vicente the surrounding coastal resources church, women and youth groups, enterprises will focus on alternative would be instilled among the together with island residents and crafts production and marketing community members and with this a barangay officials, the future will aimed at marine collectors and heightened sense of stewardship for bring more prosperity. shellcraft makers. those resources. Other goals for Olango include the formation of an [Each issue of tambuli will review After identifying a particular island-wide CRM council to include one of six learning areas of the Coastal Resource Management Project. This enterprise venture for a target site representatives from each barangay, article is the first in the series. Editor] based on an assessment of the area, the DENR, PAMB, NGO’s, and the a study is performed to determine its private sector (resort owners, tour References: marketviability. Then product operators, etc.). This committee will development and testing take place. examine CRM issues and begin to Ansula, Alex C. 1998. Coastal Once the community product gains form resolutions to address them. Community Empowerment market approval, production and Project: Destructive Fishing marketing systems are set up. In Another goal is the creation of a Reform Program (DFRP). International Marinelife Alliance, Sabang, a pilot tour of the bird zoning plan which will designate Mandaue City, Philippines. sanctuary was undertaken utilizing specific uses for different zones local community fishers, youth and based on the best feasible economic Calumpong, Hilconida P., Janet S. women, with attendees covering a and environmental use of the area, Estacion and Myrissa Lepiten. range of nationalities. Response to e.g., seaweed farming, fish cage 1997. Status of the Coastal this test was very positive and plans culture, scuba diving, marine Resources of the Olango Learning Site. Silliman University Marine to promote this package through an sanctuary, etc. This will address several problems. For instance, San Laboratory, Dumaguete City, established tour operator are being Negros Oriental, Philippines. set up. In Pangan-an Island, a test Vicente is complaining that seaweed plot of seaweed has been planted farms in Hilutungan are encroaching Flores, Ma. Monina M. 1997. and is growing well. Technical into San Vicente waters, preventing Preliminary Resource Scanning training to set up farms for ten residents from fishing there. An- Report. Report prepared for the Coastal Resource Management beneficiaries have been conducted. other example is the creation of a marine sanctuary by a private resort Project. November. Cebu City, Farms are established in cooperation Philippines. with the Lapu-Lapu city in Nalusuan Island which needs to Agriculturist’s Office, CRMP and the be reviewed in light of the various Santos, Lilette C., Filipina B. Sotto, local residents. stakeholders involved. Thomas Heeger and Samuel D. Albert. 1997. Livelihood and the A key factor for successful The CRM process for Olango Environment: Inextricable Issue in enterprise implementation is the must evolve to meet the ever- Olango Island. University of San involvement of and cooperation changing needs of the people and Carlos, Cebu City, Philippines. among government, the industry their environment. At this time, the Sotto, Filipina B. (ed.). (draft). The sector and community residents. process and its outcome (Figure 3) Coastal Environmental Profile of Establishing market linkages and can provide substantial benefits to Olango Island, Central Philippines. providing technical assistance in all the stakeholders if it is supported University of San Carlos and product development are also over the next 10 years. CRMP, Cebu City, Philippines. critical. The challenge behind It is essential for the LGUs Walters, Jeffrey, James Maragos, enterprise development in Olango is involved to facilitate the develop- Susana Siar and Alan White. providing sufficient economic 1998. Participatory Coastal ment of Olango with an eye for benefits for the community stake- Resource Assessment: A sustainable projects and equity for holders in a manner that is environ- Handbook for Community people in the area. Tourism will play mentally sustainable as well. Workers and Coastal Resource an increasing role in economic Managers. CRMP, Cebu City, Future Plans development. This must be accom- Philippines. plished with local participation. The on-going activities in Olango remains to be a challenging Olango are aimed at long-term use of case and with the dedication and resources through community hard work of the many government,

8 Cleansing the Seas: Strategies to Combat Cyanide Fishing in the Indo-Pacific Region

[This paper summarizes data and conclusions found in Sullied Seas: Strategies for Combating Cyanide fishing in Southeast Asia and Beyond by Charles Victor Barber and Vaughan R. Pratt, published by the World Resources Institute and the International Marinelife Alliance, 1997.]

Charles Victor Barber World Resources Institute Southeast Asia Field Projects, Biological Resources and Institutions Program 14 Cabbage St., Valle Verde 5, Pasig City, Metro Manila Philippines

and Vaughan R. Pratt International Marinelife Alliance 36 Sta. Catalina cor. Stella Maris Streets Bo. Kapitolyo, Psig City, Metro Manila Philippines

Cyanide Fishing: A Poison Tide on the Reef Since the 1960s, more than a million kilograms of deadly sodium cyanide has been squirted in coral reefs in the Philippines to stun and capture ornamental aquarium fish destined for the pet shops and aquariums of Europe and North America. More recently, a growing demand for larger reef food-fish has vastly increased the incidence and spread of cyanide fishing. Chinese consumers in Hong Kong and other major Asian cities greatly value certain reef fish, paying up to $300 per plate for some species, when they are plucked live from a tank, cooked and served minutes later. The live reef fish in Southeast Asia has an estimated annual retail value of at least $1.2 billion, about $1 billion from the live food-fish trade (mostly with Hong Kong), and nearly $200 million from exports of aquarium fish to Europe and North America. The combined demand for aquarium and live food-fish has spread cyanide fishing throughout Indonesia and into neighboring Cyanide diver at work.

9 countries such as Papua New Guinea and Malaysia. In the past year, officials in countries as far-flung as Eritrea, the Marshall Islands, Tanzania and Vietnam have voiced suspicions that their fast-growing live-fish export industries may also be using cyanide. Far from Hong Kong’s restaurants and the pet stores of Philippine Sea Manila Europe and North America, fishers in CDT Virac Southeast Asia, the Indian Ocean BICOL CDT Batangas and the Pacific dive into the sea with CDT “hookah” tubes in their mouths DFRP attached to air compressors on small South China Sea MINDORO boats and makeshift squirt-bottles in DFRP Coron CDT their hands. These fishers squirt CDT Tacloban PANAY DFRP cyanide into coral formations, LEYTE stunning then collecting their prey. CEBU DFRP CDT DFRP Sometimes a crowbar is necessary to BOHOL Cebu DFRP City pry apart the coral heads and reach Puerto Prinscesa the stunned fish that hide in CDT

crevices. The rewards are high, with PALAWAN some cyanide divers making more Sulu Sea than the university professors in Davao CDT their countries, but so are the risks. Zamboanga Untrained in diving safety, many CDT

fishers fall prey to decompression Legend:

sickness (bends). Contributing to Areas of Active Cyanide Fishing this chain of poison are a variety of Domestic Airports DFRP International Airports intermediaries, vessel and holding- CDT BFAR Cyanide Detection Test Lab and Monitoring Stations tank facility owners, fish exporters DFRP DFRP Training Sites and importers as well as civilian, police and military officials who look FIGURE 2. PHILIPPINE CYANIDE FISHING REFORM PROGRAM OPERATION AREAS. the other way for a cut of the profits. Cyanide kills corals and reef Resources (BFAR) and a non- resource management that transform invertebrates along with many non- government organization (NGO), the local fishers into marine stewards target fish. Large percentages of the International Marinelife Alliance- and protectors. fish that are captured live die in Philippines (IMA), have jointly Cyanide Fishers. The number transit, due to their poison- developed and implemented the of cyanide fishers operating in weakened state. Deadly in any Destructive Fishing Reform Program Southeast Asia and neighboring marine environment, the spread of (DFRP). Experience with the DFRP countries is unknown. Based on cyanide fishing is particularly tragic in the past shows that cyanide Philippine estimates of about 4,000, in the biodiverse rich countries of fishing can be reduced through a the number of hard-core cyanide the Indo-Pacific. combination of the right policies and fishers throughout the Indo-Pacific laws, improved enforcement efforts, The effectiveness of cyanide in region probably does not exceed enhanced public awareness, cyanide catching more fish was accidentally 20,000. In short, cyanide fishing is testing of live-fish exports, training discovered in the Philippines. To its not an ubiquitous problem like slash- of cyanide fishers in cyanide-free credit, it is also the only country and-burn farming. Nor is poverty live-fish capture techniques, with a program in place to eradicate the root cause of cyanide fishing development of livelihood the practice. Since the early 1990s, although, many cyanide fishers are alternatives and community-based the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic certainly very poor. Experience in

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