Community-based coastal fishery management in the Philippines: A review on small island coral reef fishery management

When there is public outcry on the destruction of natural resources, the classic response of government is to impose legislations such as total log ban or closure of fishing grounds. However, experience has not shown that legislative measures alone do not solve the problem since the displaced users of the resource will still continue to practice their trade for subsistence. With minimal effect of legislation in conserving natural resources, government has turned to the users for assistance in the management of resources by what is now popularly known as community-based resource management.

Silliman University, based in central Visayas, initiated this management scheme for coral reef fishery resources in four island communities in the central Visayas region of the Philippines, namely: Sumilon Island, Apo Island, Balicasag Island, and Pamilacan Island. This paper describes the experience of the community-based coastal fishery resource management implementors, problems encountered in the implementation, and success of the endeavor. Added to this are the personal observations by the author during his recent visit to Balicasag Island and Apo Island, describing the lasting effects in involving the fisherfolk in managing their own resources using the knowledge they learned through years of experience plus new technology introduced by an educational institution. (author).

20 pp.