Velasco, Pierre Easter L.

Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center, Training Department Institutional Repository

EP 06 |  137ESTABLISHMENT MARINE RESERVES AND FISH SANCTUARIES IN THE PHILIPPINESBy: Pierre Easter L. Velasco, Aquaculturist 1■  INTRODUCTIONThe Philippines being an archipelago, consists of 7,107 islands, a coastline of 17,460 km, a coral reef area of 27,000 sq km and a shelf area of (Depth 200 m) of 184,600 sq km. This vast expanse of marine resource employs 806, 929 persons 374,408 of which comes from the Municipal, 357,984 from the commercial and 74,537 persons from the aquaculture sector (Philippine Fisheries Profile, 2000). However, these vast marine resources are under severe stress from the pooled impacts of human overexploitation, physical interruption, pollution, sedimentation and general neglect. The destruction and decline of coral reefs, sea grasses, mangrove and estuarine quality of the once tropical marine and coastal biodiversity center of the world is a disturbing dilemma which needs an immediate and effective solution.To date, there are over 400 marine reserves and fish sanctuaries in the Philippines comprising a total area of 8,313.90 ha. On the other hand, only 37 areas have been well managed and protected.Problems/issues in the Establishment of Marine Reserves and Fish Sanctuaries in the Philippines:1. Lack of willingness, support and cooperation from the fishing communities/ stakeholders/fisherfolk• Improved fish-catches overtime are difficult to appreciate when benefits are long term and not easily seen.• Inadequate involvement of thecommunity• Lack of Educational Campaign2. Lack of Financial and Technical Capability• Delineation of Marine Reserves and Fish Sanctuaries• Surveys and Assessment3. Traditional Rivalry or Territoriality• Jurisdiction of entities (i.e. academe, NGOs) over marine areas which are traditionally open-access• Socio-political4. Involvement of other Government Agencies• DND, PNP, DILG, DENR, BFAR-RFOs“The effectiveness of a marine reserve is closely tied to the traditional resource use patterns of the people who live within or surrounding the sites. Thus, in planning for a marine reserve, ecological knowledge of species and their habitat is no more important than a complete perspective on humans in their local environment, both in the traditional and modern senses” (CRM RL-E, BFAR-RFO- VII).■  SITE SELECTIONSection 81 of RA 8550 otherwise known as “The Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998”Social Criteria1. Sites should be identified/recommended by the community/FARMC/LGU and validated/ assessed by the DA-BFAR Office2. Should be accessible and manageable to the community138 Enhancing Coastal Resources: Artificial Reefs Stationary Fishing Gear Design and Construction and Marine Protected Areas3. An active peoples organization Ecological Criteria1. Preferably the proposed site has mangrove stands, sea grass beds, or corals of no less than (20%) live coral cover and drop off slope of 22 deg2. Away from river banks, ports, creeks, shipyard, landing area of boats of no less than two (2) kilometers3. Should be away from fish corrals and other fixed structures4. Presence of threatened or endangered species in the proposed site5. Site should be diversified6. Good water quality7. Depth should be from zero to no more than 200 mEconomic Criteria1. Should be outside the duly designated navigational lanes and not a landing or a docking area2. Abutting or adjacent area should not be classified as an industrial zone■  PROCEDURES1. Site selection and baseline resource assessment2. Mapping and charting of the proposed site3. Presentation of the validation and assessment o f the proposed area to the community and multi-sectoral group and consultation, feedbacking, and dialogue thereof together with concerned agencies (DENR, DILG and DND)4. Drafting of municipal ordinance by LGUs in consultation with the community and FARMCs and other sectors5. Organization/strengthening of technical working group6. Organization/strengthening of management/monitoring team group7. Implementation, Enforcement, Monitoring and Adjustment.■  COST ESTIMATES (10 hectaresFish Sanctuary)1. Establishment• Baseline Assessment 8,000.00• Marker Buoys 37,960.00• Billboards 6,100.00• Post 22,800.00TOTAL 74,860.002. Management and Protection• Equipment 158,500.00(Fiberglass boat, SCUBA Equipment, GPS, etc)3. Structure• Watch Tower/Guardhouse(Light materials) 27,430.00• Mooring Buoys 5,060.00• Sea Borne Patrol 53,500.00TOTAL 61,303.004. Reef Check Training 32,500.00TOTAL 352,150.00Contingency (10%) 35,215.00GRAND TOTAL 387,365.00■  MANAGEMENTRegulatory Technique1. Passage of a municipal ordinance, FAO, Orders or any legal instrument declaring the area as Fish Sanctuary2. Deputation of Fish Wardens3. Regular Seaborne patrol to avoid encroachmentNon-Regulatory Technique1. Continuing information education to the community2. Cross visitation to areas where the implementation of the project is successful3. Regular monitoring and assessment of the fish sanctuary4. Organization of the Technical Working Group, management committee and monitoring team5. Adoption of a management plan6. Regular meeting of the management committee regarding the problems encountered in the implementation for adjustment of plan and policy.

Establishment Marine Reserves and Fish Sanctuaries in the Philippines

Aquatic Commons

EP 06 |  137
ESTABLISHMENT MARINE RESERVES 
AND FISH SANCTUARIES IN THE PHILIPPINES
By: Pierre Easter L. Velasco, Aquaculturist 1
■  INTRODUCTION
The Philippines being an archipelago, 
consists of 7,107 islands, a coastline of 17,460 
km, a coral reef area of 27,000 sq km and a 
shelf area of (Depth 200 m) of 184,600 sq km. 
This vast expanse of marine resource employs 
806, 929 persons 374,408 of which comes 
from the Municipal, 357,984 from the 
commercial and 74,537 persons from the 
aquaculture sector (Philippine Fisheries 
Profile, 2000). However, these vast marine 
resources are under severe stress from the 
pooled impacts of human overexploitation, 
physical interruption, pollution, sedimentation 
and general neglect. The destruction and 
decline of coral reefs, sea grasses, mangrove 
and estuarine quality of the once tropical 
marine and coastal biodiversity center of the 
world is a disturbing dilemma which needs an 
immediate and effective solution.
To date, there are over 400 marine 
reserves and fish sanctuaries in the Philippines 
comprising a total area of 8,313.90 ha. On the 
other hand, only 37 areas have been well 
managed and protected.
Problems/issues in the Establishment of 
Marine Reserves and Fish Sanctuaries in 
the Philippines:
1. Lack of willingness, support and 
cooperation from the fishing communities/ 
stakeholders/fisherfolk
• Improved fish-catches overtime 
are difficult to appreciate when benefits are 
long term and not easily seen.
• Inadequate involvement of the
community
• Lack of Educational Campaign
2. Lack of Financial and Technical 
Capability
• Delineation of Marine Reserves 
and Fish Sanctuaries
• Surveys and Assessment
3. Traditional Rivalry or Territoriality
• Jurisdiction of entities (i.e. 
academe, NGOs) over marine areas which are 
traditionally open-access
• Socio-political
4. Involvement of other Government 
Agencies
• DND, PNP, DILG, DENR, 
BFAR-RFOs
“The effectiveness of a marine reserve 
is closely tied to the traditional resource use 
patterns of the people who live within or 
surrounding the sites. Thus, in planning for a 
marine reserve, ecological knowledge of 
species and their habitat is no more important 
than a complete perspective on humans in their 
local environment, both in the traditional and 
modern senses” (CRM RL-E, BFAR-RFO- 
VII).
■  SITE SELECTION
Section 81 of RA 8550 otherwise 
known as “The Philippine Fisheries Code 
of 1998”
Social Criteria
1. Sites should be identified/recommended 
by the community/FARMC/LGU and validated/ 
assessed by the DA-BFAR Office
2. Should be accessible and manageable to 
the community
138 Enhancing Coastal Resources: Artificial Reefs Stationary Fishing Gear Design and Construction 
and Marine Protected Areas
3. An active peoples organization 
Ecological Criteria
1. Preferably the proposed site has 
mangrove stands, sea grass beds, or corals of 
no less than (20%) live coral cover and drop 
off slope of 22 deg
2. Away from river banks, ports, 
creeks, shipyard, landing area of boats of no 
less than two (2) kilometers
3. Should be away from fish corrals 
and other fixed structures
4. Presence of threatened or 
endangered species in the proposed site
5. Site should be diversified
6. Good water quality
7. Depth should be from zero to no 
more than 200 m
Economic Criteria
1. Should be outside the duly 
designated navigational lanes and not a landing 
or a docking area
2. Abutting or adjacent area should 
not be classified as an industrial zone
■  PROCEDURES
1. Site selection and baseline resource 
assessment
2. Mapping and charting of the 
proposed site
3. Presentation of the validation and 
assessment o f the proposed area to the 
community and multi-sectoral group and 
consultation, feedbacking, and dialogue thereof 
together with concerned agencies (DENR, 
DILG and DND)
4. Drafting of municipal ordinance by 
LGUs in consultation with the community and 
FARMCs and other sectors
5. Organization/strengthening of 
technical working group
6. Organization/strengthening of 
management/monitoring team group
7. Implementation, Enforcement, 
Monitoring and Adjustment.
■  COST ESTIMATES (10 hectares
Fish Sanctuary)
1. Establishment
• Baseline Assessment 8,000.00
• Marker Buoys 37,960.00
• Billboards 6,100.00
• Post 22,800.00
TOTAL 74,860.00
2. Management and Protection
• Equipment 158,500.00
(Fiberglass boat, SCUBA Equipment, GPS, etc)
3. Structure
• Watch Tower/Guardhouse
(Light materials) 27,430.00
• Mooring Buoys 5,060.00
• Sea Borne Patrol 53,500.00
TOTAL 61,303.00
4. Reef Check Training 32,500.00
TOTAL 352,150.00
Contingency (10%) 35,215.00
GRAND TOTAL 387,365.00
■  MANAGEMENT
Regulatory Technique
1. Passage of a municipal ordinance, 
FAO, Orders or any legal instrument declaring 
the area as Fish Sanctuary
2. Deputation of Fish Wardens
3. Regular Seaborne patrol to avoid 
encroachment
Non-Regulatory Technique
1. Continuing information education 
to the community
2. Cross visitation to areas where the 
implementation of the project is successful
3. Regular monitoring and assessment 
of the fish sanctuary
4. Organization of the Technical 
Working Group, management committee and 
monitoring team
5. Adoption of a management plan
6. Regular meeting of the management 
committee regarding the problems 
encountered in the implementation for 
adjustment of plan and policy.


Establishment marine reserves and fish sanctuaries in the Philippines

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Establishment marine reserves and fish sanctuaries in the Philippines

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