Harnessing Markets to Secure a Future for Near-shore Fishers Design of an LGU implemented comprehensive fisheries catch and effort monitoring schemes by UPVFI APRIL 2017 By Wilfredo L. Campos and Donna M. Guarte Design of an LGU implemented comprehensive fisheries ii Harnessing Markets to Secure a Future for Near-shore Fishers Design of an LGU implemented comprehensive fisheries Acknowledgment This report is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents of this report are the responsibility of the authors do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government. Harnessing Markets to Secure a Future for Near-shore Fishers iii Design of an LGU implemented comprehensive fisheries Contents 01 Introduction 01 Fisheries Profiling 01 A. Elements and objectives of a fisheries profile 01 B. Preparation for conducting a fisheries profile 03 C. Conducting a fisheries profile 05 D. Processing information from a fisheries profile and their relevance to management 09 Design of the Actual Monitoring Scheme for the Rapid Assessment of Target Resources at Rare Project Sites 14 Harvest Control Reference Points and Related Information 22 References 22 Appendix 1. Types of Fishing Gears 26 Appendix 2. Common Problems And Concerns Raised During The Focused Group Discussion iv Harnessing Markets to Secure a Future for Near-shore Fishers Design of an LGU implemented comprehensive fisheries Design of an LGU implemented comprehensive fisheries catch and effort monitoring schemes by UPVFI By Wilfredo L. Campos and Donna M. Guarte Harnessing Markets to Secure a Future for Near-shore Fishers v Design of an LGU implemented comprehensive fisheries INTRODUCTION catch per fisher per trip or per day Municipal local government units are mandated to • Fishing area –specific locations where fishers manage fisheries within their coastal waters. More frequently fish (used in spatial distribution of needs to be done in this regard, especially because effort) relatively little has been gained since the enactment of • Catch composition – listing of catch by gear type the Fisheries Code 18 years ago. The principal obstacle and information on the dominant catch for each to this is the lack of even the most basic information gear type and their seasonality on catch and fishing effort. Until recently, most efforts Other information – such as issues, problems and towards this end have focused on monitoring catches concerns in the fishery; trends in fisheries. and estimating production. In recent years, the BFAR initiated efforts to register fishers, vessels and gear in all II.B. Preparations for conducting a fisheries coastal municipalities nationwide. These data, however, profile need to be “matched “with their respective catches to 1. Compilation of available information. The team provide more insights into management. By design, should compile and familiarize themselves with these efforts need to be complemented by monitoring available background information about the area – how, when and where fishers operate (i.e. effort), and number of coastal barangays, number of fishers, fishing what they catch. This document presents the design gears used, commonly caught species, map of the area and operationalization of a low-cost LGU-implemented and previous studies concerning their fisheries. These fisheries catch and effort monitoring system which information will be helpful in conducting the FGD, complements gear and fisher registration efforts, and especially when participants are not willing to answer more importantly, provides LGUs with the information the questions seriously. This is typical of the first few they need to effectively manage their fisheries. In minutes of an FGD. A team is usually composed of addition, the scheme can be readily modified to include 3 members – a discussion leader, a documenter who sampling for more detailed biological studies focused posts information on the board and assists in fielding/ on specific resources or species. clarifying questions, and a notekeeper who jots down notes, especially those on clarifications, and photos FISHERIES PROFILING (Fig. 1). In areas where fisheries information is nil and or unavailable, fisheries profiling through focused group discussions (FGD) may serve as the main source of information. An advantage in holding such discussions is that it is inexpensive and more detailed information can be gathered and some verification is allowed through active discussion with and among the participants (Campos & Castillo, 2007). The ideal participants in fisheries profiling are fishers, wives of fishers and fish buyers from both sectors (municipal and commercial), fisheries officers, bantay dagat officers, BFARMC and MFARMC officials. II.A. Elements and objective of a fisheries Figure 1. Example of focused group discussion (FGD) profile (Batangas) A fisheries profile is an initial characterization of a fishery in a locality with the main objective of gathering basic information that are needed to manage natural 2. Identification of coastal barangays to be involved marine resources. The basic information that can be in the FGD. Ideally, all coastal barangays should be gathered in a fisheries profile are: included, but when the number of barangays is more • Fishing gear types – enumeration of the different than 10, priority barangays should be identified based gear types used with a corresponding description on fisher density and recommendations from the of its operation. Appendix 1 shows some common Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council gear types. (FARMC) and the LGU. Or a series of FGDs (2-3 • Fishing effort – typically expressed as number of sessions) may be conducted to cover all barangays. gear units, number of fishers, number of fishing This, however, will depend on the resources (material days or months per year (fishing calendar), number and time) available to the team. of fishers per trip and fishing hours per trip Catch rate – usually expressed as catch per fishing 3. Preparing the list of participants. The ideal trip or fishing operation; commonly presented as participants include fishers, their wives, and fish buyers/ 1 Harnessing Markets to Secure a Future for Near-shore Fishers Design of an LGU implemented comprehensive fisheries vendors/dealers from both sectors (municipal and commercial), fisheries officers/LGU, bantay dagat officers, BFARMC and MFARMC officials. At the minimum, representatives of a barangay should be familiar with the different gear types used by residents of the barangay, including their operations, catch rates, composition and an idea of how many fishers there Figure 2. Example of gear inventory matrix format used in focused group discussions are in the barangay. Barangay officials would usually be familiar with the latter. The minimum number of participants per coastal barangay is 3 and the maximum is 5. Too many participants will be difficult to handle during the FGD. 4. Coordination with the LGU and MAO. Ideally, a letter addressed to the mayor is sent at least a few weeks Figure 3. Example of catch matrix format used in focused group discussion prior to the FGD. The letter should explain the aims and outputs of the activity and how these may be used in the management of their fishery. The letter should be explicit also in requesting the kind of assistance the team will need from them, such as securing of the venue (open or closed space is okay) and informing/ inviting participants to the FGD. 5. Preparation of materials needed. • gear inventory matrix – this will eventually contain a list of the names of gear types used in the barangays involved ( manila paper or a board may be used if available) • catch matrix containing the basic catch and effort information written on a sheet of manila paper ( a board may be used if available). • sketch of the municipal map (Fig. 4) on a sheet of manila paper showing islands, islets, shoal areas, Figure 4. Example of a rough sketch of as well as isobaths, approximate municipal water a municipal map used in focused group boundaries, coastal barangays and other notable discussions landmarks. • colored pens or crayons for marking the areas where the different gear types operate • reference books to validate the equivalent English the information being listed in the gear inventory name of fishing gears (drawings of the gear and matrix how it is operated are also very helpful) and • Can someone illustrate and describe the nature family/scientific names of the commonly caught of operation of each gear type? species Involve as many participants as possible to keep • sound system (if available) them immersed and to make them feel needed and • camera for photo-documentation (if available) important. This also allows clarifying the various ways the gear has been modified. 6. Guide questions. Structured questions should be • How many units of each gear type do you have prepared to ensure that all needed information will in your barangay? be gathered at the end of the FGD. Basically, these This should be asked and noted down by barangay guide questions constitute the information in the catch • How many fishers are using each gear type in matrix. Also, prepared questions will guide the flow of your barangay? the discussion. The following are examples of the guide This should be done by barangay questions: • How many fishers are involved per operation in • What are the fishing gear types used in your each gear type? barangay? This is usually a range of values and it is also with If participants are from 5 coastal barangays, each this question that modifications to gear types are barangay should be asked one after the other, with revealed. Harnessing Markets to Secure a Future for Near-shore Fishers 2 Design of an LGU implemented comprehensive fisheries • How long (no. of hours) is the fishing operation of fisheries data gathering. The major expenses are as of each gear type? follows: This is usually a range of values that will likely • materials (as listed above) differ between seasons.