Coastal Resource Management and Advocacy: the Case of Talim Bay

1. Coastal Resource Management and Advocacy: the Case of Talim Bay

2. Presentation outline • Talim Bay profile; • Open access nature of coastal resources; • COSCA CB CRM Framework; • Talim Bay project objectives and components; • Talim Bay project highlights; • Talim Bay issues; and • Advocacies. Photo by W. Licuanan

3. Talim Bay profile • Lian is a third class municipality located in the western section or district one of the province of Batangas (Lat 14:09:06N and Lon 120:32:52E). • The following are the municipality’s coastal barangays and their current population based on NSO Batangas 2007: Balibago (2,994), Binubusan (4,144), Lumaniag (1,867), Luyahan (2,458), Matabungkay (3,915) and San Diego (3,736). • Fishing and gleaning are the major economic activity within the municipal waters of Lian, Batangas.

4. Talim Bay profile • Talim Bay, an area within the municipal waters provides resources for almost half of the population of barangays of Lumaniag, Binubusan and Luyahan. • These include food fishes, tropical aquarium fish, shells, crabs and sea cucumbers (Participatory Coastal Resources Assessment) Photo by J. Rosal

5. Talim Bay profile • Sixty percent of the approximately 450 fishers living along Talim Bay have motorized boats used for fishing while another thirty percent used non – motorized boat and ten percent do not have any. • There are twenty-one types of fishing gear recorded during the PCRA and the top three gears include: squid jigger, pang – tanguige and dala. Photo by J. Gochoco • PCRA respondents complained of very low catch during typhoon season from May to August. Earnings are allocated for food, electricity and education of children (Participatory Coastal Resources Assessment).

6. Open access nature of coastal resources • Coastal resources like fisheries are open access resources…under this condition, there are no property rights, only possession and actual use (Alcala, 1996); • Although the state claims ownership, it has inadequate control over these resources…this inadequacy has in fact led to the de facto open access nature of property rights over coastal resources (Rivera, 1995); Photo by J. Gochoco

7. Open access nature of coastal resources • This situation has been blamed for unrestricted exploitation resulting in environmental damage and resource depletion (Alcala, 1996). Photo by J. Rosal

8. COSCA CBCRM framework Appropriate resource management options Resource management structures through community organizing Localized resource management regimes Empowered peoples’ organizations and resource management councils Heightened local awareness of status of coastal habitats/fisheries and active participation in resource management options Environmental awareness through participatory research and education Open access of coastal resources Need for an appropriate resource management options Lead towards Presence of legal instruments mandating resource management Resource management mechanisms through legal and institutional means Diversification of income potential for POs Provision of supplemental livelihoods Principled partnership among different stakeholders

9. Appropriate resource management options • It is a combination of CRM approaches to address implication of open access nature coastal resources; • Ensuring appropriateness and sustainability of CRM interventions; • Emphasis on the following principles: people empowerment, systems orientation and institutionalization, principled partnership, and science and research based. Photo by J. Rosal

10. Resource management structures through community organizing • What CBCRM provides to resource users, through full participation, cooperation and empowerment of the stakeholders, is the sense of being proprietors and claimants of the resources…the organized fisherfolk or communities are the de facto day to day managers of resources…such conditions are conducive to protection and proper management of coastal resources (Alcala, 1996); Photo by J. Rosal

11. Resource management structures through community organizing • Facilitate the formation of peoples’ organizations and local resource management councils as venue for fishers participation in decision making and collective action; • Maximizing provisions of national laws mandating peoples’ participation in local area development; Photo by J. Rosal

12. Environmental awareness through participatory research and education • Decision to implement forms of CRM within a site needs relevant information however, more than merely gathering data, the participatory concept extends the research process to include fishers, LGU, and other stakeholders ensuring an analysis using different perspectives and leading towards a common conclusion…CRM; Photo by J. Rosal

13. Environmental awareness through participatory research and education • An effective implementation of CRM options would need a variety of skills for the stakeholders, these include: knowledge in basic foundations of science like geology and biology, legislative and law enforcement processes, human psychology and sociology, skills in negotiations, teaching and advocacy and a positive attitude that people can change for the better; Photo by J. Rosal

14. Resource management mechanisms through legal and institutional means • If open access denotes an absence of laws over a common pool resource, CRM essentially is imposition of a participatory management scheme within a framework of legal instruments and processes; • It is the crafting of relevant laws and mechanisms to govern relationships of resource users over time; and • Emphasizing the rule of law. Photo by R. Pomarca

15. Provision of supplemental livelihoods • The rationale of livelihood development…is to reduce harvest pressure while the resource base is being allowed to regenerate…and respects the desirable level of sustainable rent (Ferrer, 1996); • Lessening dependence on marine resources…through diversification of livelihood and facilitating access to basic social services (Ferrer, 1996); Photo by J. Gochoco

16. Provision of supplemental livelihoods • Food security and cash security are the logical goals…has to make sure that added income is spent on basic needs while the latter goal aims for sufficiency that can provide for education, health services, transportation, electricity and other needs (Ferrer, 1996); Photo by W. Licuanan

17. Localized resource management regimes • It is a set of site based mechanisms and systems for the management of resource users; • Highlighting the need for enhancement of relationships among stakeholders and institutions working for coastal resource management; and • Synergy towards conservation, protection and sustainable use of coastal resources. Photo by R. Pomarca

18. Empowered peoples’ organizations and resource management councils • Formation of three Peoples’ Organizations within Talim Bay (Kingfishers’ Fishers Association, Samahan ng Mangingisda ng Sulok and Samahan ng Mangingisda ng Paye); and • Formation of six barangay fisheries and aquatic resources management councils and one MFAMRC. Photo by R. Pomarca

19. Heightened local awareness of status of coastal habitats/fisheries and active participation in resource management options • Installed buoys to mark MPA boundaries; • Capacity building (fish warden, fishery law enforcement, write shop – project proposal making, and ecosystems cross-visit); Photo by J. Rosal

20. Presence of legal instruments mandating resource management • Lobbied fishery laws (barangay MPA Ordinance; Municipal Fishery Ordinance; • Suggested provisions of the CLUP to include MPA concerns; Photo by R. Pomarca

21. Diversification of income potential for POs • Pilot tested seaweed culture as possible livelihood option; and • Established a mangrove nursery to support reforestation efforts by selling appropriate mangrove saplings. Photo by J. Rosal

22. Principled partnership among different stakeholders • Project is in partnership with the following: LGU, PTFCF, CI, BFAR, DENR, PNP and others; • PO is in partnership with OMT-LIFE, LSGH, DLS-Dasmarinas, UP, and others; Photo by R. Pomarca

23. CRM and Advocacy • Moving beyond awareness building towards effecting liberating action; • Call for social action offices/schools to move beyond sectoral/community immersions and to participate more meaningfully within the developmental process; Photo by W. Licuanan

24. CRM and Advocacy • Essence of lasallian involvement is communion in mission…partnership building; • Observing principled partnership and upholding principles of subsidiarity; Photo by R. Pomarca

25. Fishers as resource managers. Partnering with local fishers of Lian, Batangas in conserving, protecting and sustainably utilizing the natural resource base of Talim Bay. Enhancing their capabilities in doing resource assessments, lobbying for legal instruments and environmental education. Providing supplemental livelihood. Contact Mr ReymundoPomarca at 525-4267 or local 147 Center for Social Concern and Action (COSCA)