Community-based Fishery Resources Management Project in Malalison Island: Institutional arrangements for fisheries co-management

Abstract

The paper discusses the monitoring mechanism of the SEAFDEC/AQD Community-based Fisheries Resources Management (CFRM) Project at Malalison Island in west central Philippines. The objective of the project was to learn from the collaboration of community organizations, biologists, and social scientists in adapting aquaculture and fishery management techniques and to assess the replicability of the experience to other fishing communities.

The monitoring mechanism used was Process Documentation Research (PDR), a way of recording the development process of a project focusing on the participatory model of the resource management strategy. A full-time, site-based process documentator gathered information. All activities, meetings, and consultations were tape-recorded. Informal talks or encounters with the people were also recorded.

The paper showed that PDR provided a better understanding and insight on the positive and negative perceptions of the project beneficiaries on the CFRM project. Unlike other research monitoring methods that match budget with accomplishments, PDR bares the feelings, hopes, and fears of the project beneficiaries regarding the impact of the project on their lives.