A Fishery in Transition: Impact of a Community Marine Reserve on a Coastal Fishery in Northern Mindanao, Philippines

Abstract

Establishing marine reserves or marine protected areas (MPA) is a popular management tool to ensure the sustainability of nearshore fishery against the threats of overfishing and other environmental impacts. Fish biomass in MPAs builds up rapidly in the absence of fishing and eventually contributes to fishable biomass in the areas surrounding the reserve through adult migration or “spillover.” Improved ecological conditions allow MPAs to deliver more socioeconomic benefits to resource users and thus provide higher economic rent. Accordingly, this study investigated the impacts of a community-managed marine reserve in Baliangao, Misamis Occidental, on the fishery resources and fishers of Danao Bay over a 1-year period in order to demonstrate the ecological and economic benefits of a well-managed MPA.

The assessment of the biodiversity and physical conditions of the various ecosystems in Danao Bay showed improved coral and fish diversity. Monitoring of fish catch and fishing effort was conducted in six coastal villages across Danao Bay in order to obtain estimates of catch per unit of effort (CPUE), monthly and annual yields, and costs and revenues from capture fisheries. The results showed that fish production had moderate seasonality, with higher CPUE during the calmer summer months (February–May). To demonstrate whether or not the artisanal fishery of Danao Bay was generating rent, a cost-revenue analysis and estimation of the net and net present values of fishing activities were carried out. The estimated annual revenues suggest that some gear types are more profitable than others, known as that appears to be a function of CPUE and fishing costs. The calculated total annual net operating values (ANOV) and net annual values (NAV) for each gear showed differential profitability of fishing gear, with some earning zero or negative rents (e.g., gill net and handline) while a few others earning positive rents (e.g., fish corral). Net annual values are considered to be producer surplus, a profit over costs that accrues to the gear owner, and also represent the annual value of contribution of the marine ecosystem to the artisanal fishery of the bay. Summing up the NAV for all gear results in a range of values for total NAV, with a midpoint of PHP 104,317.12 (at a 10 % discount rate). This sum indicates the amount of fishery rent generated by the bay’s fishery resources. Many gears appeared unprofitable; however, the positive midpoints of the total NAVs indicate that some fishery rent is being earned, although it is probably below the rent that could be earned if the fishery were managed more efficiently. These results indicate that the coastal fishery surrounding the marine reserve in Danao Bay could be on a transition toward becoming a viable, sustainable industry.

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