This project is a collaborative project between the University of Wollongong and the Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. Its main goal is to address one of the major gaps in the study of the management of Philippine fisheries---the handline fishing sector.
The specific objectives of the project are threefold. The first objective is to carry out a preliminary investigation of the nature of handline fishery in the Philippines, including challenges confronting the sector such as illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. The second objective is benchmarking the existing legal framework for the handline fishery against domestic and international obligations and best practice. The third objective calls for an investigation of the opportunities, challenges and information gaps in developing a management plan for this fishery. The project aims to achieve these objectives by conducting field visits and appointment of enumerators to key fishing ports, and interviewing handline fishers and fish traders, local officials, and fishers co-operatives. It also analyses existing fisheries laws, particularly the new handline fishing law Republic Act 9379, and municipal fisheries ordinances, to determine whether the existing legal framework is adequate to address the challenges confronting the handline fishing industry. Workshops will be conducted in order to identify management challenges and propose mechanisms where management and policy changes may be instituted to improve the sustainability of and secure a future for the fishery.
Data Collection on the Handline Fishery
The project has selected three regions comprising a number of municipalities as project sites: Region V (Brgy Sabang, San Jose, Camariner Sur; Brgy Nato, Sagay, Camarines Sur; Sugod, Tiwi Albay; and Tabaco City, Albay); Region VIII (Sapao, Guiuan, Eastern Samar and Sabang, Borongan, Eastern Samar); and Region XII (General Santos City, SOCKSARGEN). Two project enumerators have been deployed in each Region since August 2009 to collect catch and landing data from handline vessels. Data collection is conducted every other day by the Enumerators in each fish port. The enumeration is set to finish in September 2010.
Field visits by the University of Wollongong to each of the municipality project sites have been successfully completed in November and March. The site visits included witnessing tuna landings in fish ports and interviews and group discussions with players in the handline fishing industry such as handline fishers, brokers, and fisherfolk co-operative officers to collect socio-economic data. Interviews with fisheries managers, particularly BFAR regional officials and fish port managers have been conducted to discuss some of the legal, policy, and management challenges confronting the handline sector. Preliminary reports for the three project sites are appended to this progress report.
Analysis of the Legal Framework for the Handline Fishery
The relevant domestic legislation and policies, including municipal ordinances, have been gathered and a report on the legal framework for the handline fishery is currently being prepared. The report will contain an analysis of the gaps in the legal, policy, and management framework for the fishery, as well as the compliance of the Philippines with its obligations under regional fisheries management organisations, particularly the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission affecting the handline fishing sector.
Workshop Preparations
Workshops in the three Regions are scheduled to be conducted from 11-24 October 2010 to present the outcome of the project, provide a synthesis of the issues discussed in the initial consultations with fisheries managers and handline fishers, and further discuss management challenges and options for the industry. Workshop preparations are now underway.