Philippine Standard time

Assessing Impacts of the Closed Fishing Season Policy for Sardines In Zamboanga Peninsula, Philippines: An Interdisciplinary Approach


This project assessed the impact of the closed season policy imposed on sardines in the Zamboanga Peninsula for the months of December 1 to March 1, to allow for a more productive spawning season. The policy was formulated to address the declining fish catch of sardines, as revealed by the landed catch. The theory of change reflected the policy analysis lens. Policy inputs were the resources for monitoring compliance to the policy and information campaign to elicit community and other stakeholders’ support. Policy output is the change in fish stock while the policy impacts include increase in landed catch, effect on the incomes of factory workers, increase in net incomes of fishers and other stakeholders and increase in societal benefits, in general. Primary and secondary data were gathered to analyze impacts in the various sectors. Secondary data came from the Philippine Statistical Authority and the canneries and the bottling companies. Primary data were gathered through household surveys, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions with various stakeholders. The social welfare analysis synthesized the study results. Results showed that there was an increase in landed catch of sardines after the policy implementation and that the values of catch were higher due to the increase in catch of high value non-sardine species. Wages of fishing crew increased. Factory wages declined during the months of December to February, although working hours and days increased during open season. Factory workers found alternative livelihoods during the closed season. On the whole, there is positive impact to society. Thus, the authors recommend that closed season policy be continued while also considering other complementary strategies for fisheries management to address spill over effects and trade offs. In investigating the effects of overfishing and changing climate to sardine stocks, evaluation of the impacts of the closed season policy requires long-term records of their population and distribution.

Citations

This publication has been cited time(s).