Impact of elections on marine protected areas and fisheries
I have mixed feelings about elections as they can be disruptive, but at the same time, they give us a chance to select better leaders within the democratic framework. We can replace inept or corrupt leaders through elections, which is critical to improving our society. However, even issues that appear to be remote, such as the management of municipal fisheries, can be greatly impacted by elections much more than is presumed.
A clear example would be discontinuing Marine Protected Areas (MPA) enforcement efforts. I have witnessed numerous MPA programs being unfairly stopped or put on hold, often for many months, during and just after election periods, when no enforcement action is done, and no interim measures are enacted. Fish wardens, more often than not, are on the side of the outgoing mayor because he is the one who hires them on casual contracts. These MPAs become mere paper parks without substantive management efforts in place.
MPAs refer to zones whose focal aim is to enhance marine life conservation. An MPA is analogous to a fish sanctuary or marine reserve. MPAs are essential for enhancing the preservation of marine biodiversity and, more importantly, sustaining fish catch through the spillover effect. Within the MPA, many habitats and ecosystems serve as home to fishes and to protect fish populations from being harvested, thus allowing fish to grow and breed freely.
Fishermen can enjoy the benefits of increased fish biomass, which translates to increased fish yield as fish spillover to fished zones. This practice actively contributes to the local fishing economy by enabling the coastal communities to fish sustainably while helping to conserve the rich marine diversity that provides ecological services, including fisheries.
Classical ecology further teaches us that high species diversity offers greater stability to ecosystems vulnerable to shocks and changes, especially now with the changing global climate.
Taking care of marine biodiversity within these protected areas assures the well-being of the whole ecosystem. MPAs assist in maintaining marine life balance and species diversity by protecting sensitive species and habitats from overexploitation and destruction. This results in a more stable and healthier ecosystem where all species thrive and interact positively with the marine environment. Thus, the interrelationship between MPAs, fish catch, and biodiversity conservation highlights the interconnectedness of human activities and the natural world, emphasizing the importance of sustainable management practices through area-based management strategies.
Suspension of enforcement
The unintended impact of elections on MPA management became evident after the 2019 election, as we observed in one of the three MPAs that the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UP MSI) monitors for fish biomass since 2010 dropped markedly. After enforcement was briefly suspended, fish biomass was diminished to baseline values, eliminating the decade-long protective benefits of the reserve.
When we began tracking fish biomass in 2010, the initial level was less than 10 metric tons per square kilometer. Over the years, the biomass gradually increased, reaching a peak of 80 metric tons per square kilometer by 2016, a very high level of fish biomass comparable to highly protected areas such as Tubbataha Reefs and Apo Island protected areas. It remained at this level until the 2019 monitoring, which revealed a sudden and significant drop in fish biomass.
The new mayor reinstated enforcement efforts only after new fish wardens were employed. Regrettably, we have not been able to revisit the MPA to check progress because of funding constraints. Still, we hope that enforcement has resulted in the recovery of the fish population to its pre-election level without interruption.
This situation could have been avoided should the fish wardens have been hired permanently rather than on a job order basis. This is a common practice in many sites, and I seldom encounter fish wardens on a permanent appointment.
The MPA and the welfare of the people shouldn’t be thrown into a lottery with every election. Enforcement should not cease during and shortly after an election, regardless of the outcome. Some, if not all, of the fish wardens, should be on a permanent appointment to be insulated from electoral results.
I believe Congress needs to enact legislation creating career appointments, along with commensurate job security and stability for all wardens. Other alternatives include local government units collaborating with police agencies like the PNP Maritime Group. For example, the PNPMG runs an initiative dubbed “Adopt an MPA,” allowing MPA managers to coordinate with PNPMG for joint enforcement efforts in their respective MPAs. However, it’s important to note that the presence of Maritime Police is not assured in all coastal cities and towns.
Local fish wardens put their lives at risk to protect our marine resources, and often, they encounter peril and threats to their safety while on duty. Giving them employment security is one way to appreciate their commitment and service to their community and the nation as a whole. Offering employment security and possible hazard allowance to fish wardens also motivates and rewards them for their important work in securing our marine ecosystems for posterity.
This article is dedicated to Oliver Dayupay, the former leader of Bantay-Dagat at Iniban Fish Sanctuary in Ayungon, Negros Oriental. He lost his life in the line of duty like many others who have given so much so that others can have a chance to live.
Dr. Michael P. Atrigenio is an Assistant Professor at the Marine Science Institute of the University of the Philippines Diliman and the program head of the Professional Masters in Tropical Marine Ecosystems Management Program. He is also the President of the Marine Environment and Resources Foundation.
