The Fourth International Stock Enhancement & Searanching

Theme C: Governance and the socio-economics of releases

19. REGULATING CATCH-SIZE TO SUPPORT ABALONE STOCK ENHANCEMENT INITIATIVES: EXPERIENCES IN SAGAY CITY, PHILIPPINES


Nerissa D. Salayo, Teruo Azuma and Dianne Hope M. Tormon
SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department, Tigbauan, Iloilo, Philippines
ndsalayo@seafdec.org.ph

The study aims to determine a strategy for managing threatened and enhanced stocks of abalone in Sagay Marine Reserve (SMR) in the Philippines. The literature suggests that stock enhancement is ideally conducted in marine reserves to create best results. However, the management of marine reserves and most fisheries are challenged by fishing pressure due to poverty, high human population and lack of livelihoods in most coastal rural communities. Thus, stock release strategies should consider its co-existence with regulated human activities. However, the survey showed low level of awareness about stock enhancement and life-cycle of abalones and most fishery resources among coastal dwellers. This hinders the success potential of fisheries management initiatives. Lack of information is also associated with irresponsible fishing behavior such as capture of immature and undersized abalones. This socioeconomic component of the stock enhancement of abalone (Haliotis asinina) project of SEAFDEC/AQD and the GOJ-TF demonstrated and implemented strategies for regulating catch-size of abalones to complement on-going experimental release and future stock enhancement initiatives in Carbin Reef, a strictly no-take area within the SMR. The study demonstrated a framework for building collaboration and stakeholder ownership of regulations in a stock enhancement project.

Table 1. Roles and responsibilities agreed by stakeholders in Sagay Marine Reserve (SMR) for the abalone stock enhancement demonstration site in Barangay Molocaboc, Sagay.

Assist partners
Community Organizing
Law enforcement
Resources management planning
Project monitoring
Conduct/ support  IEC
Benchmarking of resources

Provide manpower
Enforce ordinance
Implement IEC
Assist in monitoring
Coordinate with municipal LGU, SMR, BFARMC
Enjoin youth participation
Provide logistics
Provide permit to collect broodstocks

Research, technical assistance & training
Initial supply of seeds in demo site
Provide scientific information in drafting fishery ordinances, resource management and aquaculture livelihood

Assist in data gathering

Assist and complement IEC activities

Revitalize peoples organizations with assistance from LGU/SMR
Actively cooperate in community projects
Disseminate and comply with ordinance
Provide labor (bayanihan style)

Support ordinance on catch size regulation
Practice fair pricing
Provide market information to SMR and SEAFDEC
Contribute in demo site construction