Abstract
In 2014 a closed season for the commercial fishery of small pelagics was implemented for the first time in Balayan Bay, Philippines. The fishery closure was identified as a strategic regulation to protect the small pelagics during their peak spawning period, and subsequently, as a measure to promote fisheries sustainability. Within a year immediately following the inaugural closed season, fishers in Balayan Bay reported increases in their catches of not only the small pelagics, but also of the intermediate-sized predatory pelagic fishes. The results of the fish catch monitoring surveys and reproductive biology studies from before and after the closed season appear to corroborate the fishers’ observations. They also yielded additional information that prompted specific policy modifications. Hence, the scientific findings were explicitly included in a provincial resolution to extend the seasonal fishery closure for another six years. With the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources taking a central role in the succeeding fisheries monitoring and stock assessments, survey results from Balayan Bay and adjacent bays were integrated recently, and they provided the basis for the expansion of the geographic scope of the closed season. This case study shall describe the processes that led to the successful implementation of the Balayan Bay closed season. The roles and critically active participation of multiple sectors and government agencies are highlighted. Participatory data collection, effective science communication, participatory rule-making, engaging the local champions, and an innovative application of incentives to promote voluntary compliance are identified as key success factors.
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Notes
- 1.
One such example was Dr. Wilfredo Campos who heads the OceanBio Laboratory at the University of the Philippines in the Visayas, Miag-ao Campus. Their earlier researches provided the scientific basis for the proposed management options in the Verde Island Passage. These subsequently led to more specific studies to narrow down the scope of the proposed closed season.
- 2.
DSWD. June 2014. SLP Concept Note: DSWD-USAID Partnership.
- 3.
Non-parametric comparison of means, Mann-Whitney U Test (Sig = 0.000).
- 4.
Provincial Resolution No. 377, 2015 Resolution Supporting the Six-Year (2015–2020) Extension of Pagpapahinga ng mga Look ng Balayan, Talim at Nasugbu, Implementing a Closed Season for Purse Seine (pangulong, paipot), Ring Net (pukutan, pukot), and Bag Net (basing) Operations in Balayan, Talim, and Nasugbu Bays.
- 5.
‘Preliminary result of the stock assessment in Calatagan, Balayan and Nasugbu Bays’ a presentation by the DA-BFAR Region IV-A during the consultation meetings and feedbacking sessions (unpublished).
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Bacalso, R.T. et al. (2023). Philippines Case Study One. In: Wolff, M., Ferse, S.C., Govan, H. (eds) Challenges in Tropical Coastal Zone Management. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-17879-5_7
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