Two
Marine Sanctuaries Established in Barangay San Roque,
Municipality of Mahinog, Camiguin
Vivien S. Cabanban, B.B.A.
Project Management Officer, SUAKCREM
As a result of the efforts of PEW Fellows Program in Marine Conservation and
Camiguin Polytechnic State College in cooperation with the Mayor of Mahinog,
Hon. Benedicto Castañares, and the Governor of Camiguin Province, Hon. Pedro
Romualdo, two marine sanctuaries in Barangay San Roque, Mahinog, Camiguin
were established through Municipal Ordinance No. 054 on August 21, 2000.
Assembly
meeting at San Roque for the management planning of the two sanctuaries.
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The
San Roque Barangay Resolution No. 066 passed on July 17, 2000 identified two
sanctuary sites. However, the ordinance was found defective, and the town
council of Mahinog had to revise it before formal approval as Municipal Ordinance
No. 054.
One of the sanctuaries (area 36,589m2) is on Mantigue (Magsaysay)
Island, about 3.8 km east of Barangay San Roque. The whole Mantigue Island
is about 62,000m2 with a population of approximately 178 individuals. Electricity
generated from solar and wind energy is available on the island. Despite this,
only four households use electricity, with only one household owning a television
set.
The sea is the major source of livelihood for the residents of Mantigue, with
about 80-85% of them depending on fishing and collecting shells and other
organisms such as sea-urchins. The only alternative source of income for four
households on Mantigue is the selling of dry goods through their small sari-sari
stores.
Based on informal interaction with residents of Mantigue Island, we believe
that the residents are aware of the importance of a marine sanctuary. However,
further community work is required to prepare the people for the responsibilities
in managing the sanctuary through the strengthening of the People’s Organization
(PO), as well as to assist the community in identifying other sources of income
through trainings from different attached agencies of the local government
units.
The other sanctuary (area 88,440m2) is located on the Camiguin mainland off
Barangay San Roque in the municipality of Mahinog. There are approximately
1,200 residents in the area. Unlike those on Mantigue Island, residents in
Barangay San Roque have more alternative sources of income from selling goods
in the wet market, working in government agencies, driving public utility
vehicles, etc. However, fishing is still the major source of income for these
residents.
One major setback in implementing community work on Mantigue Island is the
pending order of the municipality of Mahinog and the province of Camiguin
requiring residents to vacate Mantigue Island. Our community organizers had
to take a neutral stand on this issue, although they work with the Mantigue
community to protect and co-manage the sanctuary with the officials of Barangay
San Roque.
With the passing of the revised Municipal Ordinance, POs have been formulating
their management plans for the two sanctuaries. Community work has been in
place since September 2000.
Fish
Yield of Selinog and Aliguay Islands, Dapitan City,
Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines
Enrico Cruz, B.S.
Graduate Student Researcher, SUAKCREM
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Typical fish catch in Aliguay Island. |
Coral reefs have always been a major source of food for a developing country like
the Philippines, but only recently have fish yield of coral reefs been studied
and documented. Several studies were conducted over the years which reported
estimates and potential yield based on fish landings and catch estimations
in several areas. Such studies have given a better understanding of the factors
which affect the variability of fish yield and the potential fish production
of coral reefs.
At present, a study is being conducted which aims to provide estimates of
fish production and potential yield of two small islands in the southern
Philippines. These are the islands of Aliguay and Selinog off the coast
of Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte, in the Mindanao Sea. Both are island
barangays of Dapitan City inhabited by 364 and 832 individuals, respectively.
The islands of Aliguay and Selinog are small, with a land area of about
69 and 78 hectares, respectively. The islands are characterized by fringing
reefs and broad reef flats with steep drop-offs and shelves. The area of
coral reef surrounding Selinog is about 50 hectares (including satellite
reef) while that of Aliguay is 80 hectares (excluding satellite reefs, which
are circa 70 hectares). Selinog and Aliguay islands are now under the National
Integrated Protected Areas System or the NIPAS Act, which means that the
islands are now part of a system of nationally protected landscapes and
seascapes similar to Apo Island in Negros Oriental. Thus, these islands
now have proposed or established marine reserve areas, with varying levels
and periods of protection by their resident communities.
There are two distinct weather patterns that affect the study area, the
more pronounced northeast monsoon or the “amihan” period which runs from
November to April and the southwest monsoon or the “habagat” period which
runs from June to September. During the monsoon months, strong winds and
high waves affect the fishing activities on the two islands. The period
of calm occurs in May and October when the monsoons change.
Fish catch data were gathered in situ, when fishermen landed their catch
and from local fish buyers or middlemen to whom fishermen sold their daily
catch.
Preliminary results of the study showed that the monsoons are the major
factors affecting the fish catch on the two islands. Fish catch was low
during the more pronounced northeast monsoon starting from December, 1999
to February, 2000 due to strong winds and waves. Monthly catch for Selinog
starting from December was 2.9 tons and increased to 3.4 tons by February.
The catch consisted mainly of jacks (Caranx) and rainbow runners (Elagatis)
of the family Carangidae and surgeon fish (family Acanthuridae). In Aliguay,
total catch in December was 1.6 tons and this increased to 1.9 tons by February.
Catch composition in Aliguay during this period was also dominated by the
family Carangidae.
During the calm changeover of the monsoons and the start of the southwest
monsoon, during March to June, fish catch increased on both islands. In
Selinog, total catch was 4.3 tons for March, 5.3 tons for April and 4.7
tons for May. Fish families common during this period were jacks (Carangidae),
breams (Lethrinidae) and snappers (Lutjanidae). In Aliguay, however, a decline
in the volume of fish catch was observed due to a shift in fisheries of
the local community from fin fish to shell. Total monthly catch in Aliguay
during the period from March 2000 to the present (September) averaged 200
to 300 kilos only, dominated by the ubiquitous Carangidae and invertebrates
(octopus, cuttlefish).
A
rare shell (genus Conus locally called "Pergrandes" collected
in Aliguay Island.
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A more lucrative fishery of rare
shells in Aliguay has prompted most of the fishermen on the island to shift
their effort from demersal and pelagic fishing to shell collecting. This shift
started during the early part of year 2000 and has continued to the present.
The traditional bottom set entangling net was changed to a modified bottom
trawl net which increased the efficiency of catching the shells. Rare shells
of the genera Conus and Cypraea are commonly collected at depths of 140-200
m, and buyers from Cebu and Bohol would come to the island and purchase them
for prices ranging from P8,000 to P30,000 per specimen. The gear used probably
damages the sea bottom and catches common shells which are usually
discarded. This activity bears watching for its potential damage to both environmental
and shell resources.
The study will make comparison of fish yield and catch compositions of the
two islands, as well as seasonal changes in production and composition. It
study will also show how marine reserves affect the fisheries on these islands.
All of this information will give us a better understanding of the factors
which affect coral reef fish production of these two islands.
