The past few days word ad video about the fishing of skipjacks of Twin Rocks, a popular dive spot in Mabini, Batangas became a topic of discussion among those familiar with the dive spot – perhaps it would be safe to say that most Filipino divers would be familiar with Twin Rocks since often it would be the one of the first dives one would take in Anilao, Mabini, Batangas. The regular organisms like the shoal of Skipjacks would be a welcome and familiar sight to divers. As such itis not surprising to see the sadness and anger that came about with the news that the skipjacks were caught by fishermen. But before reacting to it the news itself brought forth more questions like: where they caught outside or inside the Marine Protected Area (MPA)? Were the fishermen local or dayo – from another area? And more importantly why did this come about?
When i first heard it was locals who were supposed to have been the culprits, it piqued my curiosity. In most cases i have come across whether its the harvesting of Giant Clams, dynamite or cyanide fishing the usual claim was it was Dayo or Outsiders who did it, I suspected there might be a problem at a community level.
I was then came across this study by Patrick Christie on Perceived and observed impacts on marine protected areas in two South East Asian sites. Thr study was published in 2005 and cited the positive effects of Marine Protected Areas in stabilizing the fishery in Mabini and increasing stock in Indonesia.
The study also observed qnd opined several things about the MPA:
However, out of 60 Mabini informants involved in the structured interviews, 36 informants (60%) felt there had been in improvement in the condition of coastal resources (including fish, coral and mangroves) over the last 10 years. Of those 36 who felt there had been an improvement, 33 informants felt that the various ICM projects had influenced this change.
The lack of consensus suggests that there remain significant coastal environmental problems in the area. There is a growing problem with trash disposal, which is frequently thrown into the sea by passenger ships and tourists. Recently, sport divers have organized large-scale annual coastal clean-ups activities once per year. During the September 2001 event, hundreds of divers participated and thousands of kilograms of trash were removed from the waters and beaches of the Mabini area.
With the growth of tourism in the area, erosion caused by road, home, and hotel construction has become a growing concern with informants. Ongoing swidden agriculture on the steep slopes is also likely to contribute considerable silt loads to the marine systems. Landslides are common during heavy rains according to some informants. Local fishers commented on the decline of shellfish populations on beaches fronting resorts due to the construction of hotels and boat landing in some areas. Set-back regulations are either non-existent or poorly enforced.
There are growing concerns among some community members and fishers that diving and boat anchoring is damaging the small MPAs. This was supported by field observations. Few anchor buoys exist. Arthur’s Rock MPA is no longer strictly enforced. Twin Rocks and Cathedral Rock are protected—but mainly by vigilant resort owners rather than by local fishing community fishe members (as was originally the case). The case of Twin Rocks is particularly interesting since unilateral enforcement actions by one hotel owner has created considerable tensions with the nearby Balanoy fishing community. Comments about diving-related damage may be linked to disapproval of hotel owner involvement in MPA enforcement. The controversy is heightened by widespread resentment caused by dive resort owners who ignore an amendment to the MPA management ordinance banning recreational diving inside the MPAs [13,15]. Such strained relationships may influence how informants describe the condition of the environment.
In particular in Mabini. Christie’s study noted via survey the attitudes of the community to the MPA and other shareholders – municipal government, hotel and tourist businesses; and the tourists themselves. It is also important note that thru the eyes of the respondents one can also get a glimpse of the environmental cost of a road, a farm and even a hotel. And reminds us that each of us has an impact on any ecosystem.
The study was published in 2005. Several years have passed and one hopes that these perceptions and conflicts within the community of stakeholders had been solved. Otherwise, there would be a long term problems that will undermine all the gains brought about by the MPA. Case in point the case of the Skipjacks of Twin Rocks. Was this because of unresolved conflict-of-interest between the fisherfolk and resort owners?
Hopefully not.
Otherwise, The fishing of the skipjacks from Twin Rocks brings to fore the need for all stakeholders to be involved in the conservation and fishery management effort. It is not an easy road, because of individual or perhaps even class bias – the haves and the have nots – an age old problem: Poachers and the Feudal Lords. But it should be done because an MPA that is only implemented by one is only good for a short period of time. A more effective MPA would therefore include also in its implementation the economic and social well being of the community. In this case the residents, the fishermen, local businesses, government, and tourists.
The Skipjacks of Twin Rocks: Shadow of a Conflict in Marine Protected Areas?
The past few days word ad video about the fishing of skipjacks of Twin Rocks, a popular dive spot in Mabini, Batangas became a topic of discussion among those familiar with the dive spot – perhaps it would be safe to say that most Filipino divers would be familiar with Twin Rocks since often it would be the one of the first dives one would take in Anilao, Mabini, Batangas. The regular organisms like the shoal of Skipjacks would be a welcome and familiar sight to divers. As such itis not surprising to see the sadness and anger that came about with the news that the skipjacks were caught by fishermen. But before reacting to it the news itself brought forth more questions like: where they caught outside or inside the Marine Protected Area (MPA)? Were the fishermen local or dayo – from another area? And more importantly why did this come about?
When i first heard it was locals who were supposed to have been the culprits, it piqued my curiosity. In most cases i have come across whether its the harvesting of Giant Clams, dynamite or cyanide fishing the usual claim was it was Dayo or Outsiders who did it, I suspected there might be a problem at a community level.
I was then came across this study by Patrick Christie on Perceived and observed impacts on marine protected areas in two South East Asian sites. Thr study was published in 2005 and cited the positive effects of Marine Protected Areas in stabilizing the fishery in Mabini and increasing stock in Indonesia.
The study also observed qnd opined several things about the MPA:
In particular in Mabini. Christie’s study noted via survey the attitudes of the community to the MPA and other shareholders – municipal government, hotel and tourist businesses; and the tourists themselves. It is also important note that thru the eyes of the respondents one can also get a glimpse of the environmental cost of a road, a farm and even a hotel. And reminds us that each of us has an impact on any ecosystem.
The study was published in 2005. Several years have passed and one hopes that these perceptions and conflicts within the community of stakeholders had been solved. Otherwise, there would be a long term problems that will undermine all the gains brought about by the MPA. Case in point the case of the Skipjacks of Twin Rocks. Was this because of unresolved conflict-of-interest between the fisherfolk and resort owners?
Hopefully not.
Otherwise, The fishing of the skipjacks from Twin Rocks brings to fore the need for all stakeholders to be involved in the conservation and fishery management effort. It is not an easy road, because of individual or perhaps even class bias – the haves and the have nots – an age old problem: Poachers and the Feudal Lords. But it should be done because an MPA that is only implemented by one is only good for a short period of time. A more effective MPA would therefore include also in its implementation the economic and social well being of the community. In this case the residents, the fishermen, local businesses, government, and tourists.