Bio-diversity

San Antonio Bay comprises nine (9) coastal barangays which has been considered as the richest fishing ground in Bataraza. During the early 80 s up to early 90s, fisherfolks used to have bountiful fish catch. A fisherman could catch as many as 35+ kilos using hook and line method. That time the use of dynamite is the only illegal fishing method occurring in the area. Today the use of sodium cyanide, fine meshed, nets and active gears such as, trawl, hulbot, kulong, sinsuro, and even palutang are rampant that dramatically deteriorated marine products. This led them to a situation where fisherfolks sometimes cannot even repay the amount of gasoline they use for fishing due to destruction of fishery resources. Continuous tan barking of mangrove destroys the spawning area of fish and the habitat of other important species. The degree of destruction can be referred by just looking at the great tonnage of confiscated tan-barks at the PNP Bataraza Station. According to reports, these confiscated tan-barks only forms a portion of what has been taken in the Municipality. Tan-barks are traded in Malaysia as they can easily bring products via lantsa (boat) in just few hours. This degree of destruction in the area motivated the Bono-Bono Gintong Butil Multi-Purpose Cooperative to address some issues which they believed they have control. In particular these associations intend to reforest degraded mangrove areas, conserve and protect coral reefs through the establishment of Marine Sanctuary in at least two coastal barangays. The project will also strengthen community vigilance and participation in law enforcement thru Deputation of Fish Wardens to assist Government Enforcement Teams. The degree of illegal activities in Bataraza is relatively high and Bono-bono Malihud Fisherfolks Association and Gintong Butil MPC acknowledge limitation at resolving this municipal wide concern. However, the association targeted four barangays / communities where to focus its interventions. Foremost intention of the project is to heighten the awareness of four communities to become the protector/steward of the resources from which they are benefiting since time immemorial. The project will initiate activities that capacitate and empower communities to act collectively in supporting law enforcement. Concrete results include: (i) communication systems for monitoring and apprehension established between the communities and law enforcers as a direct offshoot of increased community vigilance (ii) deputation of fish wardens including youth and women (iii) number of apprehended illegal activities and (iv) reduced incidence of illegal activities. The project will establish a monitoring station in strategic sites and install fish wardens in affected sites. Some 3,000 hectares of mangrove forest shall be put under community management scheme employing those mentioned strategies. Establishment of Marine Sanctuary within the San Antonio Bay is also one of the identified strategies by the project. It specifically aims to (i) demonstrate to communities that allocating portions of healthy and rich reef species will bring forth significance difference in increase of fish stock, density and population. (ii) demonstrate how effective management of marine resources that would later on be replicated in other sites with similar condition. (iii) provide ecological benefits thru regeneration or enrichment of resources and (iv) sustain marine products / food and biodiversity within it. Only manageable portion shall be allocated by the communities for Marine Sanctuary as the start-up initiatives. The project will not go facilitating big areas as there is a perceived limitation that communities cannot sustain protection and management of big areas. The ideal size would range from 30-100 hectares only as the area has been challenged by intrusion of commercial fishers and using active fishing gears (cyanide and blast fishing). Overarching strategies to be employed by this project includes (i) community organizing to generate wider range of community participation, (ii) direct conservation activities - planting of mangroves, sanctuary establishment and law enforcement, and (iii) IEC/awareness building, Networking and Advocacy. These measures will eventually reduce the accelerating destruction of fishing ground and hope that will radiate to all adjacent areas along San Antonio Bay. Biodiversity Value Various species such as benthic, pelagic and other migratory fish could be spotted in the bay. Crustaceans, mollusk, ray and squids, likewise play an important role in the lives of many fisherfolks residing near the area as these are the main source of income, daily food and source of protein for their children. The coastal stretch of San Antonio Bay contains century old mangrove trees which some portion has been subjected to tan-barking. This project will initiate protection of mangrove forest and the biodiversity within it and work to improve the forest cover by direct planting in degraded portions. The project will handle 20 hectares planting site while put some 1,000 hectares under community managed areas with Deputized Fish Wardens safeguarding. This Mangrove forest plays an important role in the ecosystem of San Antonio Bay as it serves as the breeding ground for fish, and gleaning areas of shells and crustaceans. Among the species of mangroves are: Bakauan Babae, Bakuan Lalake , Busain , Api-api Tabigi, Buta-buta Tigbau Reef species are rich in diversity

Philippines