Developed by BFAR with USAID-URI Fish Right Program Table of Contents 1.0 Introduction Purpose and Content of this Toolkit What is an FMA? Why FMAs? How does FMA work in a nutshell? 2.0 Practical Guidelines Basic Roadmap for Organizing and Operationalizing an FMA Promoting FMAs and Engaging Stakeholders in the FMA Convening and Operationalizing the Management Board for FMA Convening and Operationalizing the Scientific Advisory Group Establishing Reference Points Adopting Harvest Control Rules and Harvest Control Measures Developing the EAFM Framework Plan for the FMA Developing Localized EAFM Action Plans for LGUs and BFAR Creating Sub-FMAs FMAs within or covering Protected Areas under E-NIPAS Act Monitoring and Evaluation Guide for FMAs 3.0 Companion Documents—available at https://www.bfar.da.gov.ph/ FAO No. 263, s. 2019 Establishing FMAs FOO 84, s 2019 Designation of Lead BFAR Regional Offices in the Implementation of FAO 263 FOO 227, s 2019 Roll-Out of FAO 263-Organizing and Operationalizing FMAs FOO 352, s. 2019 Creating the National TWG on FMAs FOO 164, s 2016 Mainstreaming EAFM FOO 161, s 2016 Creating EAFM TWG for EAFM-Related Activities FOO 338, s 2019 Reconstituting the National EAFM TWG Standard FMA Presentation Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Individual FMAs: Basic Profile—Maps and Lists Creative Assets - Infographics on FMA, RPs and HCRs, 12 FMAs, Comics and Videos 4.0 Templates FMA Form 1. LGU EO Endorsing LGU Representative in FMA Management Board FMA Form 1.1. LGU MOA Endorsing LGU Representative in FMA Management Board FMA Form 2. Endorsement of Sectoral Representatives to the FMA Management Board FMA Form 3. Notice re: FMA Orientation and Selection of Provincial Nominees and then Sectoral Representative to the FMA Management Board FMA Form 4. Letter for Inviting Institutional Members for Scientific Advisory Group Sample Information to be Requested for Provincial Situationer to Collate FMA Information Sample Agenda for Workshop on Translating FMA EAFM Plan into LGU EAFM Action Plans Sample Agenda for Research Agenda Workshop for SAG Annexes: 1 FMAs of the Philippines: NAMRIA-Produced Map; Lead BFAR Regional Offices 2 FMAs and their Area, Fishing Grounds & Administrative Regions 3 List of FMAs and LGUs by Provinces and by Cities/Municipalities 4 Inter-LGU Alliances [Data Source: Horigue, et al] 5 NIPAS MPAs within FMAs [Data Source: DENR-BMB] Companion Existing Tools: BFAR Materials on Mainstreaming EAFM Available at https://www.bfar.da.gov.ph/PUBLICATIONCAPTUREDIVISION.jsp Mainstreaming EAFM Program Mainstreaming EAFM Handbook Mainstreaming EAFM Workbook Mainstreaming EAFM Toolkit Mainstreaming EAFM Brochure EAFM Reference Guide M-EAFM Planning and Implementation Process Modules 1-12 NFRDI National Stock Assessment Program Available for download at www.nfrdi.da.gov.ph The Philippines Capture Fisheries Atlas 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Purpose and Content This toolkit outlines how to roll-out the Fisheries Management Areas (FMAs) in the different parts of the country. It covers the practical steps to establish and initially operationalize FMAs and the key presentations and creative materials for its execution. This is a resource primarily for BFAR personnel as they organize and operationalize FMAs in the Philippines while maintaining a clear and consistent understanding and approach to FMAs. Secondarily, this is also a tool for other national government agencies, local government units, private sector, non-government organizations and stakeholders to inform them how they can be involved in and proactively contribute to making the FMA functional on-site. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), with the technical assistance of the Unites States Agency for International Development (USAID) – University of Rhode Island (URI) Fish Right Program, developed this toolkit, drawing from the experiences of BFAR Region VI in the Visayan Sea as well as from consultations from other BFAR Regional Offices, to support the initial targets of BFAR. (Annex 1) Everyone is encouraged and welcome to use this toolkit, with proper acknowledgment to BFAR. This toolkit is also available at the BFAR website. For more information, please contact Mr. Rafael Ramiscal, Chief, BFAR Capture Fisheries Division at telephone number 02 – 929 4296 or email at [email protected]. 1.2 What is an FMA? Fisheries Management Areas or FMAs is the spatial delineation of our Philippine waters as a means to find an appropriate scale of management. It is an approximation of an ecosystem scale of management. It approximates fish stocks and their distribution based on best available science, mostly from the National Stock Assessment Program of the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI). The law defines FMA as a bay, gulf, lake or any other fishery area which may be delineated for fishery resource management purposes. (Sec. 3.6) Fisheries Administrative Order No. 263, s. 2019 issued by the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture divides Philippine waters into 12 FMAs. This was done in coordination with the BFAR-NFRDI and NAMRIA, following a series of country-wide consultation with stakeholders since 2016. FAO 263 provides that for purposes of sustainable fisheries management, FMAs in Philippine waters are established, based on considerations of stocks boundary/range/ distribution, structure of fisheries as well as administrative divisions, and undertaken through consultation based on stocks and fisheries distribution. (Sec. 4) 1.3 Why FMAs? Managing fisheries at the FMA level allows for a more ecosystem based approach to fisheries management (EAFM) as it now considers the range and distribution of fish stocks based on an approximation of an ecosystem, rather than based on political or legal jurisdictions only. EAFM goes beyond considering target species. It takes into account both ecological well-being and human well- being, founded on good governance. This is consistent with the amended Fisheries Code that mandates the ecosystem approach to fisheries management to holistically manage the fisheries. FMAs also provide for a science-based, participatory and transparent framework of governance. It is science- based as management decisions consider the status of fish stocks and other ecological considerations. It is participatory as it allows for greater cooperation and coordination between and among BFAR and LGUs as well as other stakeholders. As management becomes more and more participatory, the transparency is also enhanced. 4 FMAs build on coastal resources and fisheries management and integrated coastal management. They also build on current efforts at bay-wide management as well as previous efforts on managing through integrated fisheries management units. 5 1.4 How does an FMA work? Fisheries will now be managed cooperatively by BFAR and the LGU within each FMA. Each FMA, through an FMA management board, assisted by a Scientific Advisory Group, will establish reference points and adopt harvest control rules, based on scientific information, and recommend the appropriate harvest control measures. BFAR and LGUs will then implement these science-informed measures. Each FMA will also have a strategic plan called an Ecosystems Approach to Fisheries Framework Plan that will lay down in broad strokes the policies and strategies for the FMAs. Based on this, BFAR and LGUs will develop and implement their own action EAFM Action Plans. Fisheries resources are now collaboratively managed by stakeholders’ representatives - national-local, commercial-municipal, public-private. It will allow for a more science-based, participatory, transparent and adaptive form of management. The FMA Technical Working Group that the Lead BFAR Regional Office will oversee is critical to doing the on- the-ground work to assist the FMA Management Board and to coordinate with all the stakeholders. MANAGING THE FMA Fisheries Admin LGU Ordinances MB—BFAR RFO, LGU, Sector Orders (DAO) / DA Issuances -Policy decision making -Deliberate on plans, programs & policy proposals -FMA plan; SAG - Representatives of NSAP Re- gions, Sectors/Stakeholders -RPs, HCRs &CMSSs/HCMs based on SAG recommendations and management advice -Review scientific/technical infor- mation produced by Science Provid- -Others relating to the MB functions ers (data, technical reports, including RPs, HCRs) -Prepare summary reports; stock sta- tus management advice and recom- WGs/COMMITTEES - BFAR –Regions, mendations (incl. RPs, HCRs and Policy / Stakeholders CMMs/HCMs) Resolution adopted by MB -Indorse to MB (HCMs to be endorsed to -Workhorse/legwork of the MB NFARMC must comply -Conduct stakeholders consultation first with Rule 65.2) as maybe necessary -other operational functions that SSCIENCE PROVIDER- NSAP-Regions/ MB instruct to working groups/ NFRDI, Academic/Research Insstitutions committees -Generate scientific/technical data, in- formation and reports (including RPs and HCR/M recommendations) -Indorse to SAG -Scientific/Technical -Local knowledge Figure 2. Managing the FMA 6 FMA Ultimately, when the FMA is fully operational, this is how the ideal FMA will be functioning to enhance the ecological well-being and human well-being of those within the FMA, founded on a science-based participatory governance. FMA in a Nutshell Figure 2.1 FMA in a nutshell 7 2.0 PRACTICAL GUIDELINES 2.1 General Roadmap for Organizing and Initially Operationalizing an FMA To organize on-site and initially operationalize an FMA, the following key steps are