Environmental impacts and distribution of benefits of Apo Island Marine Sanctuary, Dauin, Negros Oriental, Philippines

Date

2022

Abstract

The Apo Island marine sanctuary was evaluated in terms of its environmental (ie, coral cover and diversity, reef fish yield, fish diversity, and fish catch) and socioeconomic (ie., fishing income, household income, sanctuary income, skills development, environmental awareness, capacity to manage, and capability to enhance/generate local policies) impacts. The study showed that there have been significant improvements in all the identified indicators since the sanctuary was established in 1984. However, measured improvements in reef fish yield did not seem to translate into increased fish catch among fishers. Fish catch was found to be decreasing in the last five years.Tourism has improved local employment and created alternative livelihood activities for local residents. Conflicts between scuba divers and local fishers seemed to be increasing, a possible indication that existing fishery and tourist activities may be nearing the acarrying capacity of the island. Benefits derived from the sanctuary starting in 2000 is estimated to range from US$193,138.08 to US$238,487.28. Benefits from the island's coral reefs is estimated to be higher than previous estimates of sustainable coral reef economic benefits. The Net Present Value (NPV) of the sanctuary's net benefits from 1979 to 2001 at 6 discount rate was computed at P134,758,657.66. Most of the total benefits starting in 1979 were attributed to fish catch (81.63percent), while most of the estimated costs incurred in managing the sanctuary were incurred by technical experts (38.50%) who were largely unpaid. The Benefit-Cost Ratio was computed at 4:64:1. Starting in 2000, a shift was observed in the distribution of benefits. Of the total benefits derived from the sanctuary in 2000, majority (50.86% to 59.67%) went to resorts and dive shops; only about 26.07% to 31.54% went to the community. Community benefits were mainly in terms of employment in

19 resorts (32.61% to 33.97%), fish catch (31.42% to 32.07%), and ferry boat operation (21.71% to 22.16%). Apo Island has been a model site for community-based resource management, but the implementation of the NIPAS actually took the sanctuary's leadership away from the community to DENR, and apparently is creating a shift in local values from volunteerism to compensated labor contributions. Policy recommendations are discussed to address existing issues in the island.

Document Type

Master Thesis

Language

English

Location

UPLB Main Library Special Collections Section (USCS)

Call Number

LG 995 2001 E8 B47

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