RESEACH PROPOSAL
STATUS OF MARINE PROTECTED AREA IN BICOL REGION IN RELATION TO FISHERIES PRODUCTION
MELLIZA BUBAN-TRINIDAD
Introduction
Bicol region consists of 94 coastal municipalities and 1,067 coastal barangays, wherein most population rely on fishing as the main source of income. Because of this, fisheries resources are under heavy pressure from a rapidly growing coastal population that rely on the coral reef associated fishes for sustenance and livelihood. (Dalby & Sorensen, 2002). As the needs of the population grow and resources become scarcer, methods to meet these needs become increasingly effective and sometimes destructive to the coral reefs (McManus 1997). Today, fisheries related activities are the greatest threat to coral reefs in the Philippines (Gomez 1997).
The issues of most concern are declining fisheries, mangrove forest and coral reef destruction, and poverty among coastal communities. Overall fisheries-related food production in the Philippines has been static for the last 10 years despite increased number and tonnage of commercial vessels, increased number of municipal fishers and increased coverage of fishponds (BFAR, 1997; Courtney et al. 1999). Municipal fish catch has been on a steady decline, accelerated by the use of illegal fishing practices and over-fishing.
In short, the Philippine’s 18,000-kilometer coastline is under siege from a variety of activities and impacts, which are eroding the natural resource base and the area’s potential for