This study was conducted is to establish baseline information on marine protected areas in the Visayas. Specifically, the study aimed to (1) determine the personal and household profile of the dependent population; (2) determine the perceptions of the dependent population on their household situation and changes in the community and their aspired prominence, general aspiration in life and education of children; (3) describe the fishing practices of the dependent population, their problems encountered and perceptions of change in the fishing industry; and (4) determine the awareness, perception and reaction of the dependent population in the MPAs and about MPA declaration of their area.
The study is purely descriptive and had utilized the one-shot survey design. The respondents are local officials, officers and members of fishermen association in the barangays where the Marine Protected Area (MPA) is located. Stratified sampling was followed in proportionately allocating the number of respondents from all the fisherfolk associations. Data collection was done through Structured Interview.
The respondents are generally, in their middle ages, males, married and elementary educated. Most of them considered fishing as their primary income source and have an average income of P2,773.39 per month. The respondents were generally members of Coastal Resource Management or related organizations and have participated in the electoral process as voters. Comparing their present household situation and their perceived situation five years after, more than half of the respondents claimed of a relatively better situation. The majority of the respondents also perceived the present condition of their communities to be relatively better than its situation five years ago. Even with relatively positive perception of their present condition, they still aspire to be economically stable and want their children to finish college. Three-fourths of the respondents don’t want their children to become fishermen.
On the average, the respondents have been into fishing for 19.11 years. Their most common type of fishing was hook and line and were using paddled banca. Their average investment for fishing is P13,628.30. They consider the months of January to May as peak months, June to October as lean months and November to December as normal months. Although the problem of relatively low fish catch was cited by some respondents, more respondents rated their fishing areas as relatively fair or relatively good and perceived that the present status of their fishing areas is relatively better than its status five years ago.
The respondents were aware that part of their fishing areas was declared as a marine protected area (MPA). Their perceived positive effects of MPA declaration are improved catch of fish, shells and seaweeds and protection of the fishing area resulting to sustainable fishing. Most of the respondents believed that the MPA declaration would limit the fishing activity of fishermen from other areas in their fishing areas. They also believed that it will improve the fish catch of the fishermen and would result to positive or favorable effect to the local fishing industry. Majority of the respondents were familiar with the boundaries of their MPA. They also declared that they were in favor of the establishment of MPAs in their fishing areas.
