ASSERTING RIGHTS, DEFINING RESPONSIBILITIES Small-scale Fishing Communities and Fisheries Management Perspectives in the PHILIPPINES Country Level Background Sector Fishing Ground Jurisdiction Gears MainCatch Municipal Municipal Waters (Inland Waters, Shore to 15 kms) Local government units Passive Small & large pelagics, demersal Commercial Beyond 15 kms Bureau of Fisheries & Aquatic Resources Passive & Active Small pelagics Aquaculture Municipal Waters LGU Ponds, pens, cages Shrimp/prawn, milkfish, tilapia, seaweeds 2 Community Rights and Claims • Livelihood – Equitable use of resources – Sustainable resource base – Participation in management and development of resources • Settlement • Basic Social Services 3 Major Policies Involving Fishing and Fishing Communities • Philippine Constitution • Fisheries Code – 15 km Municipal Waters – FARMCs – MSY-TAC • • • • Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act Local Government Code National Integrated Protected Area Systems Indigenous People Rights Act 4 Threats • Destructive and Overextractive fishing gears • Access – Delineation of municipal waters – Dislocation from aquaculture development • Resource Use conflicts – Lack of Community Property Rights instruments – Conflicting tenurial regimes • Participation in policy making & enforcement – Invisibility of the small fisherfolk sector, especially fisherwomen • Judicial Process • Fisheries liberalization – Intensive aquaculture promotion – Flooding of cheap imports and smuggled fish – Loss policy space • Fisherfolk settlement 5 Commercial fishers Municipal fisherfolk Municipal fisherfolk Commercial fishers 6 Community Perceptions • Geographic – Religion, Ethnicity, Gender, Clans, Wealth • Fishing Sector – Gear-based • Stakeholders – Compliance – Collective Action for Management 7 Candelaria, Zambales Examples of Community Action: Candelaria, Zambales • Candelaria, Zambales – Municipal waters are reserved for exclusive use to residents of Candelaria combined with establishment of sanctuaries and gear regulation through engagement with LGU in policy making and enforcement – Engagement with LGU in the development of Comprehensive Land and Water Use Plan to include provision for fisherfolk settlement area – Fisherfolk federation exercises influence over LGU despite changes in administration 8 Examples of Community Action: Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur • Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur – Women lead coastal resource management by the community through the organizing, policy formulation, patrolling, mangrove rehabilitation, sanctuary management and monitoring. – Organizational gender mainstreaming initiatives transforming relationships from the household to the community level – Capacity development to ward off eviction threats from private claimant of land – Linkaging with LGU and national government agencies to support long-term CRM efforts 9