Population pressure, migration and fishing effort in coastal areas of Camarines Sur.

Date

1989

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine and relate demographic pressure with fishery exploitation in coastal areas characterized by open access in Camarines Sur. It also tried to investigate factors which likely affect migration, a primary factor in population pressure. Furthermore, it sought a relevant relationship between the probability of the fishermen to migrate or not given some indigenous and exogenous variables. Since coastal areas of Camarines Sur were not clearly defined and identified, the study attempted to make its own definition and was able to come up with 13 coastal municipalities. Using descriptive analysis, evaluation of demographic pressure was made possible. Results revealed that increasing population primarily brought about by in-migration exerted pressure on the limited resources of coastal areas. This is compounded by the open-access nature of the fishery resource which resulted in uncontrolled entry of outside fishermen. Consequently, this increase led to intensive utilization of existing agricultural and fishery resources and technical change in fishery (change in fishing method, intensification and expansion). The latter suggests over-exploitation of the resources as indicated by the disappearance of some fish species, low catch, conflicts among users of the resource, low income and others. The logit model was used to determine the factors affecting perception of utility hence, probability of migration. Variables which significantly affected migration decision were household size, ownership of fishing gear, presence of other soures of income, education, skill of fishermen, and civil status. These were proxy variables related to individual's personality characteristics, perception of situation and perceived characteristics

63 of origin and destination areas. Of the variables, the probability of the fishermen's to migrate most sensitively responded to ownership of fishing gear, a form of security. Results implied enforcement of policies which would alleviate socio-economic condition of small-scale fishermen, reduce pressure on the fishery resource, and inhibits out-migration of local people. These include : banning the catching of fast diasppearing and juvenile fish species, illegal fishing and formal sanction in case of violation; provision of alternative or supplementary sources of income as a response to the need of providing local employment and promoting equitable distribution of benefits; organization of fishermen into a cooperative or association to oversee conceived livelihood; assignment of fishing right to a group of fishermen to counter open access nature of the resource and acts as an incentive to manage the resource; redirection of present education system to suit the local needs; and intensive campaign for small household size. Recommendations were also made for the procurement of aerial photographs or its substitute to estimate coastal population (a target beneficiaries); for further examination of the kinship, distance, population density at origin area roles in migration decision; and lastly, for the concerned government authority to closely and constantly monitor the gathering of data or they be reliable updated and properly filed for public use.

Document Type

Master Thesis

Degree

Master of Science in Environmental Science

College

School of Environmental Science and Management (SESAM)

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS