Academic Initiatives

in Coastal and Marine

Resources Management

Angel C. Alcala
University Research Professor
Silliman University, Dumaguete City
Introduction
Introduction
Primary Academic Thrusts of HEIs
• General Education -- majority of HEIs
• Technology -- Agriculture, Fisheries,
Engineering, IT, Biotech.
• Sciences -- Biology, Chemistry,
Geology, Physics, Oceanography,
Mathematics, Environmental Science
Introduction
Fisheries
• UPV and other state colleges -- how to
catch more fish, how to make fishing gears
more effective.
• Major problems beginning in the 1970s --
habitat degradation, depletion of fisheries
due to over-fishing.
• In the 1980s, 1997 -- too many fishers
chasing too few fish; warning issued by
two major papers (Silvestre & Pauly 1997).
Introduction
Fisheries
• Now, government agencies unable to stem
the tide of fishery depletion and
environmental destruction (see Smith
1980; In Turbulent Seas, 2004).
• Now, realization of need for resource
protection and management (CRM) away
from centralized mode of management
(CBCRM) (see Ferrer et al. 1996)
• Need for a new paradigm on fisheries
conservation.
Challenges to Academe
Challenges to Academe

• Sustainable fisheries
• Conservation/Preservation
of Biodiversity
Challenges to Academe
Guide Questions:
1. How can marine/fishery habitats be made
to recover?
2. How can fisheries be managed?
3. How can marine biodiversity be
conserved/preserved?
4. How can local communities/LGUs benefit
from protective management?
Responses of Academe
Responses of Academe
• Research on MPAs
1.40

1.20
Marine and Inland Fish
Production (x106 mt)

1.00

0.80

0.60

0.40

0.20

0.00
1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000

Year
Municipal marine and inland fishery production
in the Philippines (BAS, DA).
Responses of Academe
• Publication and dissemination of results of
marine protection

Total annual catch from the nonreserve areas, and estimates of biomass
in the no-take reserves, at Sumilon and Apo Islands.
Responses of Academe
• Establishment and monitoring of MPAs
based on research results

Marine reserves in the Bohol Sea (left) and graph showing relative decline in municipal fisheries
production due partly to the conversion of mangroves to fishponds (Primavera 1995) (right).
Responses of Academe
• Ensure sustainable sources of income with
no negative effects on the environment
Responses of Academe
• IEC activities such as workshops,
conferences, meetings
Responses of Academe
• Advocate for inclusion of research results in
lawmaking (e.g., R.A. 8550, Fishery Code)
 Assessment
of track records of HEIs
(n=1,760)
Assessment of track records of HEIs
1. CHED MAEP program on biodiversity in
1996-2001 in state colleges (several
graduates at the master’s level)
2. < 10 HEIs involved actively and
meaningfully in CRM-related research and
CRM practice; few offer graduate programs
in marine science. 25 students in marine
biology and aquaculture took their master’s
degrees.
3. Marine area of country is 7 times the land
area of 30 million ha.; country is an
archipelago (not widely appreciated).
Assessment of track records of HEIs
4. CRM projects ignore experts in small
colleges, who need involvement for
experience purposes (e.g. Bohol, Palawan)
5. Some regions lack marine biology,
oceanography experts; sometimes too
academic (e.g. northern Luzon, Mindanao
in general).
6. Integrate population control in community-
based CRM projects.
What needs to be done?
What needs to be done?

1.Strengthen existing
programs.
2.Increase number of HEIs
involved in marine science.
3.Apply research findings to
CRM; few HEIs doing this.