Mangrove-friendly aquaculture: A community research project Item Type article Authors Surtida, Marilyn B. Download date 29/09/2021 19:11:40 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/1834/35143 M angrove-friendly aquaculture: a community research project By MB Surtida In 1953, the pioneering Filipino fishery organizations (POs) of seven barangays of scientist Dr. Domiciano Villaluz wrote the towns of Ibajay and Tangalan. “...it is apparent that Philippine coastal In the long term, the POs will manage fishing banks have yielded their maximum the mangroves and other coastal resources production and their productive capacities made productive through the implementa­ are diminishing ... aside from this, the tion of mangrove-friendly aquaculture and effects rendered on the fishing banks are coastal resource management strategies. disastrous in that the fishes are not given a Through the training, the participants’ chance for natural productivity.” But it was awareness of fishery laws would also al­ not until the 1970s when conservation and low them to formulate policies related to management of coastal resources were coastal resource management. The legal given due attention. By this time, unmis­ basis for such activity is in the Local Gov­ takable signs of degradation of coastal ernment Code of 1991 and the Fisheries environments and depletion of fishery Code of 1998. stocks could not be ignored. The key players Seminar-workshop on mangrove- The LGUs and POs. The LGUs and POs friendly aquaculture and coastal are supported by the provincial governor, resource management Gov. Florencio Miraflores, Mayors Pedro AQD established in Malalison Island, Garcia of Ibajay, and Jed Tirol of Tangalan. Antique, a community-based fishery re­ In an interview, Gov. Miraflores outlined source management research project to his plans and activities through networking learn from the collaboration of a commu­ with various government and non-govern­ nity organization, biologists, and social ment institutions. Admitting that the fish­ scientists in applying fishery resource man­ eries sector is a neglected sector as com­ agement techniques. From such experience, pared with agriculture, he organized a other project sites would be established. fishfarmers’ cooperative in 1985 (the Thus, the seminar-workshop on man­ Bugtong Bato Fishermen’s Association) as grove-friendly aquaculture and coastal re­ part of the government’s project with the source management was conducted on 19- (now defunct) Ministry of Human Settle­ 21 August 1998 at the Department of En­ ments. The cooperative, still active to the vironment and Natural Resources Training present day with 92 members, operates an Center in Jawili, Tangalan, Aklan. Nearby otoshi-ami, a stationary net set at the sea is the site of AQD’s research study on bottom to catch market-sized fish. Proceeds TOP TO BOTTOM: mudcrab and shrimp in mangroves and from the catch is used for net m aintenance, 1 At the seminar-workshop, participants made resource maps to identify the resources in grouper culture in net cages in a cove. The daily pay for two divers and a bookkeeper, their locality study is a demonstration of mangrove- and hospitalization and educational loans 2 The aquasilviculture project in old growth friendly fish farm. for members. The successful operation of mangroves will be stocked with mudcrab, The participants of the seminar-work­ the association was recognized in a national shrimps, and milkfish and planted to seaweed. 3 Governor Florencio Miraflores of Aklan, shop are composed of officials of the local award given by the Department of Envi­ Panay Island believes in networking for government units (LGUs) and peoples’s ronment and Natural Resources. effective delivery of public services page 31 2 SEAFDEC Asian Aquaculture Vol. XX No. 5 October 1998 while the socioeconomic characteristics of m angrove-friendly aqua ... from p 2 trouble on the reef ... from p 8 resource uses and property rights arrange­ ments on resource use in mangrove com­ The same cooperative, the governor munities will be described. “People dumped this garbage bag from said, is ready to take on the responsibilities In Ibajay, the aquasilviculture com po­ a boat,” Cray said. People have come to of the SEAFDEC AQD mangrove-friendly nent will stock crab and plant seaweed your reef.” aquaculture project, as are the other POs ( 1,400 m2), stock shrimp (400 and 700 m2) “So, what you told us was all true,” of the two towns. Saying that there is so and milkfish (700m2) in old growth man­ Slier answered. much to be done, the project is in line with grove. Crab culture in pens will also be “What are we going to do? We have government thrust to alleviate poverty and done in the river that runs along the man­ to stop the people,” Cray said. conserve coastal resources. But he warns grove areas. Seedlings of Rhizophora, Nypa “But how? We are so small,” Sher that these projects have to be sustainable and other suitable mangrove species will said. and that in his experience, organizations are be planted or maintained as part of the “Come on. We’ve got to warn every­ better kept small; when they increase mem­ greenbelt area. body,” Dino said. That night, “Help! Help! Please help bership, they usually fall apart. His prov­ Summing up ince has projects by the Local Government me! I’m hurt,” shouted a wounded shark. Support Program, the Canadian Interna­ Fishery cooperatives can co-manage Everybody got out of their holes on the reef. tional Development Agency, and lately, coastal fishery resources, help improve the They saw blood. SEAFDEC AQD. He further said that the living conditions of small-scale fishers, and “The people are going to kill us. We mangrove-friendly aquaculture project will slow the rapid depiction of these resources. must leave,” the shark warned them. But benefit from the already organized coop­ These are the findings of a 1998 AQD study it was too dark. The friends went back to erative as this component is crucial in the by Ms. D. Baticados published in F isher­ their holes. operation of the community-based coastal ies Research 34 (2): 137-149 of ten In the morning they heard a noise. management project. fisherfolk cooperatives in Capiz, Central They saw many fish floating, all dead. Philippines when it investigated the will­ Another ‘kaboom’ was heard and another SEAFDEC AQD. SEAFDEC AQD initially ingness of cooperatives to co-manage fish­ group of fish was killed. provides information on the concepts and ery resources. The study further found that “My friends, we must leave. We’ll all principles of sustainability and possible most cooperative members (74%) were die if we stay,” a swordfish said. projects applicable in the area. Correct in­ willing to assume responsibility in manag­ “But I love this reef,” a goatfish said. formation that influence policy making will ing fishery resources. Apathy and lack of The reef fishes were so worried, but also be made available such as stock as­ lobbying skills prevent the members from they did not know what to do. Many of sessment, appropriate culture systems, den­ acquiring control and use rights over fish­ them left but some stayed. sity of stocking, etc. ery resources. Further, 52% were aware of Later, people came to the reef with cya­ In the mangrove area at Ibajay, Aklan, the 1991 Local Government Code and the nide, which they squirted into holes occu­ conservation and management will be the provision on the participation of people’s pied by small colorful fish. People sold prime consideration. The operations will be organizations in governance. the captured butterfly fish and clownfish to managed by the Bugtong Bato Fishermen’s The results show that sustainable aquarium shops. Association. Four aquaculture technologies aquaculture has a bright future, contrary to The people kept coming buck for more in mangrove areas will be verified and dem­ statements that sustainability is hopeless in fish from the reef. Soon all the beautiful onstrated. Although only the aquasilvicu­ the midst of poverty. Further, it validates fish were gone, then even the not so colorful lture projects will be conducted in Ibajay, the research direction that AQD took in the fish. Soon, only the seaweeds were left. other projects such as G ra cila ria and last ten years. The seminar-workshop also And finally, there was nothing left on the shrimp production in pens arc being as­ confirmed the results of the study as shown reef for people to eat. sessed for their feasibility. by the participants' interest in the activi­ Many children got sick, then the old The economic profitability of the tech­ ties to find solutions to identified problems. people, then even the fishermen who used nologies being verified will be evaluated, to come to the reef. The reef fishes stayed away for a long time. SEAFDEC Asian Aquaculture Vol. XX No. 5 October 1998 31.