Lecture/Discussion #1:

The coastal and marine ecosystems:

An overview
 The coastal zone

Land

Mangrove Beaches
Tidal flats
Seagrass beds

Coastal zone
Coral reefs
1 km 15 km
Municipal waters Open
sea

Coastal Zone is the interface where the land

meets the ocean. It includes the shoreline
environment and the adjacent coastal waters.
 The coastal zone

Land

Mangrove Beaches
Tidal flats
Seagrass beds

Coastal zone
Coral reefs
1 km 15 km
Municipal waters Open
sea

A Philippine Coastal Zone has the following major

ecosystems along its shallow coastlines
ƒ coral reefs
ƒ seagrass beds
ƒ coastal wetlands including mangroves
ƒ estuaries and lagoons
Mutual contributions of tropical
coastal habitats

Mangrove ecosystem

Coral reef ecosystem

Seagrass ecosystem
 Typical life cycle of coral reef fish species
and interconnectivity of habitats

Recruitment of juveniles to
1 week - 3 months nearshore nursery grounds
in planktonic
larval phase
MANGROVES
Larval embryo Adult fish Migration to reef
stocks SEAGRASS
when grown
Growth
NEARSHORE HABITATS
Adult
spawning
events
CORAL REEF
PELAGIC ZONE
(open ocean)
Rich marine biodiversity with 400 species
of corals; 900 species of seaweeds; and
1,400 species of fish and crustaceans
Provide 50% of the animal protein in the
Philippines
Good number of Filipinos dependent on
fishing for livelihood
Habitats of the Philippine
coastal zone
 Examples of inlet types from
lagoons to deltas

Estuary

Estuarine
lagoon Estuarine
Lagoon delta

Delta

Estuaries,
lagoons and bays
Estuary in Malalag Bay, Davao del Sur Coastal wetland in Masbate
Coastal wetlands, including mangroves
Wetlands play as home and
nursery feeding grounds to
a great variety of plants and
animals.
Mangroves are woody, seed bearing plants adapted
for life in brackish water. Serve as feeding and
nursery grounds and refuges to many fish species,
migratory birds and other marine organisms.
Examples of two major mangrove genera

Rhizophora Avicennia
 Mangroves and their ecological and
economic benefits
Habitat for birds, bees, monkeys,
and other wildlife
Microbial decomposers and herbivores
Benefits to humans:
• Clean water
Leaf litter/Detritus
Juveniles for Nursery • Fish, shells,

s
sk
Protection from storm
aquaculture ground mollusks, etc.

llu
Mo
wave and erosion
Detritus
• Medicines
Traps sediments and • Tannins
stabilizes coastal areas
• Wood (fuel and
construction)
Detritivores
• Honey
Supports food chain
away from mangrove areas
• Alcohol
• Shore protection
Small carnivores • Research data
Commercial and • Education
subsistencfisheries • Recreation/tourism
• Biodiversity
Large carnivores
 ™ One hectare of mangrove
trees produces up to 3.6
tons of litterfall annually.
™ One hectare of healthy
mangrove ecosystem
produces about 1.08 tons
of fish and fishery products
per year.
Falling leaves
(Schatz 1991)

Big fish

Crab
Shrimp Small fish

Detritus
(leaf particles with fungi & bacteria)
Beaches are dynamic landforms which features
are constantly being shaped through forces of
wind and water.
Undisturbed beaches
also serve as nesting
places for turtles.
They also are the
focal point of coastal
tourism since many
tourist activities
depend on clean
beaches.
Seagrass beds are
seed-producing
marine plants that
occur in shallow,
nearshore waters,
and are often found
between coral reefs
and mangrove
areas, colonizing
the soft, shallow
and sandy-muddy
bottom.
 Seagrass
ƒ Seagrass beds harbor a rich assemblage of
marine organisms that all contribute to the
important role of seagrasses in the marine
ecosystem

ƒ Seagrass beds support at least:

– 172 species of fish
– 46 species of invertebrate
– 51 species of seaweeds
– 45 species of algal epiphytes
– 1 species of sea turtle
– 1 species of Dugong
 Types of seagrasses commonly found
in the Philippines

Halodule
Cymodocea Syringodium

Halophila
Thalassia Enhalus
Food chain in Philippine seagrass ecosystems
Corals are
actually tiny
animals called
polyps that live
in colonies
underwater,
either in patches
or extensive
reefs.
Each colony is composed of
thousands of tiny polyps.
Polyps secrete salivary calcium
carbonate material that hardens
to form the rigid structural mass
of the reefs.
Parts of a coral polyp
Formation of a typical fringing coral reef
Less oxygen and nutrients More oxygen and nutrients
-slow coral growth -fast coral growth

Living coral to
Fringing Coral grows out
depths where
reef light penetrates

Coral debris and

non-reef building
corals

The coral colony grows as one polyp buds off another polyp. The polyps build a
united skeleton which gives the colony the strength to withstand waves and storms.
Requirements for healthy coral reef growth

Light

No sedimentation
Some wave action
Limited exposure
to air Seawater
Immersion temperature
in water between
0
18 and 34 C
Clean, clear Coral
water polyp
Normal
salinity Shallow
water
External CaCO3 skeleton
depth

Hard substrate
Considered as the
“rainforests of the
sea”, coral reefs are Philippine coral reefs host:
among nature’s
most spectacular ¾ more than 2,000 species of
and beautiful fish
creations and ranks
as one of the most ¾ 5,000 species of clams,
complex and diverse snails and other mollusks
ecosystems in
the world. ¾ 488 species of corals
¾ 981 species of bottom-living
algae
¾ thousands of other marine
organisms

It is estimated that one square kilometer of healthy coral reefs can produce up to
20 tons of fish per year. Destroyed reefs on the other hand only produce less than
4 tons of fish per square kilometer per year.
 Lecture/Discussion #2:

The Philippine coastal zone:

An endangered environment,
issues, problems
Coral reef degradation
Status of Philippine coral
reefs at 14 localities
(85 reefs samples)
2.4%

Percentage of observations
(EXCELLENT)
22.4% 23.5%

(GOOD) (POOR)

(FAIR)

51.7%
Coral reef condition as percentage of hard coral cover

0-24.9% Poor 25-49.9% Fair 50-74.9% Good 75-100% Excellent

(85 reefs sampled)
Mangroves in trouble
Decline of mangrove
resource in the Philippines

450,000 ha
in 1918

(Thousands of Hectares)
Mangrove Area 288,000 ha
in 1970

140,000 ha
175,000 ha in 1988
in 1980
138,000 ha
?
in 1993
 Loss of seagrass beds
Loss of seagrass beds are attributed to the following:
¾ Land use activities such as encroachment in the habitat
through reclamation and improper shoreline
development including the construction of structures
that impede natural water movement
¾ Use of destructive fishing gears that scour and scrape
the seagrass beds
¾ Sedimentation and siltation from upland areas
¾ Introduction of water borne pollutants from domestic
and industrial wastes
Loss of marine sand through mining/quarrying
and inappropriate coastal development
Seasonal variations in beach erosion
and accretion
Low energy waves gradually move sand towards the
beach and slowly rebuild a gently sloping beach profile
Beach

High energy waves erode beach and carry sand to deposit offshore

Beach

Offshore
 Examples of down-drift erosion resulting from
hard engineering solutions and headlands as
seen from aerial view

Beach Beach
Erosion
Erosion Accretion
Groins Accretion Breakwater
Littoral drift/current Sea Littoral drift/current Sea
Beach Beach
Rocky Erosion
Erosion headland

Accretion Accretion
Littoral drift/current Jetties Sea Littoral drift/current Sea
 Declining fish catch
Trend in estimated daily fish catch Fisheries-related food
per municipal fisher for Olango production for 1951-1996
Island, Cebu 3,000,000
Large-scale (commercial) fishery
20 Small-scale (municipal) fishery
2,500,000
Inland (municipal) capture fishery
18 Aquaculture

Production (mt)
2,000,000
16
Introduction of
sodium cyanide and
Catch (Kg/person/day)

14 dynamite fishing 1,500,000

12
1,000,000
10
Use of fine
8 mesh nets 500,000
6

4 0
51 53 55 57 59 61 63 65 67 69 71 73 75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95
2 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19

0 Year
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 1998 2000
 Trend in catch per
unit effort for
municipal small
pelagic fisheries since
1948 and total
fisheries production

45

40

Kg of Fish caught for standard unit of effort

35

30

Average catch of fish 25

per unit effort since 20

1940s for fishers using 15

hook-and-line from six 10

provinces around the 5

Philippines 0
1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000
Year
 Illegal destructive activities
¾ Blast fishing, use of poisons, superlights, muro-ami, fine mesh nets,
in fishing
¾ Conversion of mangroves and seagrass habitats to land or other uses
resulting in decline of nearshore catch
¾ Mine sand and beach mining/quarrying
¾ Harvesting of banned species including corals, whale sharks, manta
rays, giant clams and endangered marine species
¾ Non-observance of shoreline setback
regulations resulting in damaging construction
activities and development in the coastal zone
¾ Inappropriate tourism activities/
development
¾ Pollution
¾ Loss of marine biodiversity
 Common fishing gear (nationally or locally) in the
Philippines and the potential damage caused by the gear

Blast fishing
- destroys the reef and fish
habitat along with the fish

Compressor fishing

- allows the fisher to use poison,

collect almost anything, and to
seriously disturb the bottom habitat
 Too much fishing is killing the fishing.
Overfishing occurs when the
quantity of fish harvested causes
a net reduction of the fish
population, thereby limiting
production from fish stock for the
future.

For so long now, fish are caught

much faster than their ability to
naturally replenish.
The lack of management measures and open access fishing
result in overfishing and overexploitation of fish stocks

5 6
3 4
1

1 – Beach seine (municipal) 5 – Drive-in net (municipal)

2 – Trawl (commercial/municipal) 6 – Round haul seine (municipal)
3 – Fish corral (municipal) 7 – Purse seine/ring net
4 – Scissor net (municipal) (municipal)
 Overfishing
Growth overfishing Level of exploitation of
world’s major fisheries
Depleted Moderately exploited
Size of fish available

Overexploited 8% 26%
17%

1 2 3 4 5 Fully exploited
Years of fishing 49%

Current technologies give us the ability to catch everything in the sea

 Long-term impacts of overfishing

Beginning population

Natural selection Fisheries selection

After many generations

After many more generations

 Increase in density of fishers
Luzon
All major bays in the
9
Philippines are heavily
1 10
exploited
8
3

5
Important fishing bays:
2
1. Manila Bay 7. Visayan Sea
7 6
2. Carigara Bay 8. Burias Pass
3. Samar 9. San Miguel Bay
4. Guimaras Strait 10. Ragay Gulf
an

11
law

4 Visayas
5. Maqueda Bay 11. Honda Bay
Pa

6. Leyte Gulf 12. Illana Bay

Very heavily exploited Mindanao
> 70 fishers/km
Heavily exploited
2- 70 fishers/km 12
Lightly exploited Davao Gulf
> 0.2-2 fishers/km*

*The only coastal areas which may not be overfished occur here.

Source: Edralin et al. 1987

 Inappropriate coastal development
current accretion current

coral
original runway reef
beach new runway
eroded
area
reef

seawall to
protect
houses
ORIGINAL NEW

Extension of airport runway interferes with sand

movement, Dumaguete City
 Frequent environmental impacts of tourism
development and activities on the coastal zone
Resorts built
on beach

Beach walls
cause erosion

Jetskis in
nearshore
swimming areas

Sewer outfalls

Inappropriate breakwater Anchors break corals

or causeways
 Resource use conflicts
¾ Coastal areas all over the Philippines are
being developed rapidly because people like
to live and do business near the sea.
¾ The consequence is that beaches, foreshore
land areas and nearshore coastal habitats are
in demand and are being utilized for a wide
variety of conflicting human uses including
industry, construction, dumping, boat
landings, tourism and human settlements.

Commercial size fishing

vessels often compete with
small-scale fishers in
municipal waters
Nearshore fisheries support many thousands of
coastal dwellers through livelihood and food
 Pollution and loss of water quality

¾ About 50% of the

coastal and marine
pollution in the
Philippines comes
from runoff and
land-based
discharges.

Improper waste disposal is

becoming a major problem
 Erosion, sedimentation, accretion
¾ Illegal logging and
improper site
development have
resulted in erosion
of lands and
subsequent
sedimentation of
wetlands and
foreshore areas.

Shoreline erosion
causes a real loss
of land
Growing population and deepening poverty
¾ The coastal areas are under increasing
pressure from rapid population growth
of 2.4% per year and the consequent
concentration of development activities
in the coastal strip.
¾ More than 60% of the Philippine
population live within what are
considered coastal areas.
¾ The increasing population and poverty
have put additional pressure on
resources, subsequently resulting in
increasing environmental damage,
overfishing and alarming degradation
of habitats.
The average Filipino family has
more than 5 members
 Lecture/Discussion #3:
Introduction to coastal resource
management (CRM) and the
CRM planning process
Key content points:
¾ Coastal resource management (CRM) is first and
foremost about addressing varied, wide-ranging and
often interconnected issues that directly or indirectly
impact coastal areas.
¾ CRM provides the tools for slowing down, if not reversing
the negative impacts of uncontrolled use of these
resources.
¾ CRM is best accomplished by a participatory process of
planning, implementing and monitoring sustainable uses
of coastal resources through collective action and sound
decision-making
¾ By involving resource users and focusing on local level
responsibility, the communities have more ownership of
the resources, issues and problems and their
corresponding solutions.
CRM is above all else, managing
people and human activities so
that their negative impacts on
the coastal environment are
minimized.
It is a consultative, multi-
sectoral and multi-disciplinary
process that encourages the
participation and cooperation
among individuals and
communities to achieve the
conservation and sustainable
use of the coastal zone and its
resources.
 Key issues addressed by CRM
¾ Degradation of coastal habitats
¾ Open access to fishery resources
¾ Increased fishing pressure to unsustainable levels
¾ Destructive/illegal fishing practices
¾ Coastal law enforcement
¾ Loss of marine biodiversity
¾ Inappropriate tourism and
coastal/shoreline development
practices
¾ Resource use conflicts
 Involving communities in CRM
It is important to recognize that local fishers and community
members are the real day-to-day managers of coastal
resources and nearshore fisheries.
Major activities that involve communities in
the CRM process:
¾ Identification of stakeholders
and formation of partnerships
¾ Community organization
and mobilization
¾ Community participation
in the planning process
¾ Information, education and
communication (IEC)
 Required inputs for establishing a Common vision for
CRM-improved conditions

common vision for coastal resource Adequate management

Fisheries recovering
Habitat quality improving
Adequate food and resources
management at the community level Public awareness
and advocacy

Community participation in CRM

of — planning, implementation,
n i ng and monitoring
rse
o r wo s
f ion Community organization
s quo ondit nt
me s
atu c ge
St na em
t e ma probl Community visioning
y
qua urit leted ion
NO and participation
Indeod secs dep royed opulat CHA
Fo herie dest overp NG E
Fis bitats and
Ha verty
Po
E
A NG
CH

Existing conditions
Inadequate management
Fisheries declining
Coastal habitats degraded
Poverty and increasing population
in coastal communities
 Role of the local government units
Local government plays a pivotal role as the last safety net for
the recovery of coastal and marine resources in the Philippines.

The primary mandate for

managing municipal/coastal
waters out to a distance of
15 km from the shoreline has
been devolved to the local
government unit (LGU) under
the 1991 Local Government
Code (RA 7160) and more
recently defined in the 1998
Fisheries Code (RA 8550).
 LGU Mandate for CRM

Planning
LOCAL Protection
GOVERNMENT FISHERIES
CODE Regulatory
CODE Enforcement
Legislation
AGRICULTURE Intergovernmental relations
AND FISHERIES Relations with POs and NGOs
MODERNIZATION Extension and Technical
ACT
Assistance
Agencies responsible for managing coastal resources
Provide CRM as a basic service to municipalities/cities through
technical assistance, training, and information management
Strengthen and harmonize local policies
National Government Evaluate and validate municipal/city CRM plans and programs
(central, regional, and Serve as a broker/catalyst to link projects and programs with
provincial offices) needs of coastal municipalities/cities and promote CRM
DENR
BFAR Municipality
DILG Province Mayor
PCG Governor Vice-Mayor/SB
PNP-Maritime Vice-Governor/SP MPDO
DOST PPDO MAO
PN PAO MENRO
Regional Development PENRO-LGU Municipal CRM office
Council Provincial CRM office Municipal FARMC
Provincial Development Integrated FARMC
Barangay
Council Municipal Development
Council Barangay Captain
Private Sector Barangay Council
NGOs Barangay FARMC
Academe Bantay Dagat/Deputized
Fish Warden
Fisherfolk Associations
People’s Organization
 Strategic planning on CRM for LGUs
Management Options

Information, Education and Communication

Issues (Programs)
and z Fisheries Management
Problems z Habitat Management Administration

Community Organizing
z Coastal Zoning and
z Shoreline Management Coordination of
z Enterprise & Livelihood Implementation
Participatory
Management z Plan Monitoring &
z Coastal Tourism Implementation Evaluation
z Environmental
Objectives Management z Implementing
z Legal and VISION, for z Waste Management Structure
Institutional MISSION Management z Legal Arrangements z Budget
z Social and z General & Institutional
z Economic GOAL z Specific Development
z Watershed
Operational
Management
Plan

Policies & Regulatory Mechanisms

Strategies
Strengths 1. Activities Schedule, Budget, Responsible Agencies
and 2. Activities Schedule, Budget, Responsible Agencies
Opportunities 3 . Activities Schedule, Budget, Responsible Agencies
 Benefits of CRM planning to LGUs
¾ Guides local chief executives on priority issues to be addressed
¾ Establishes local legislative agenda for municipal, city and
provincial councils
¾ Provides direction to technical staff on actions to be taken to
address priority issues
¾ Provides a framework for making informed decisions
about coastal and marine resource use
¾ Provides continuity during changes
in political administration
¾ Contributes to long-term
sustainability of economic
development activities
Spatial coverage of a municipal CRM
implementation
Comprehensive municipal development plan
Comprehensive
land use plan
Municipal
CRM plan

1 km 15 km
Coastal zone
Municipal waters
The coastal management planning process being
adapted for Philippine local government
National policy and legal framework
Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3
Issue identification CRM plan preparation Action plan and project
and baseline assessment and adoption implementation

Phase 5 Local legislation

Information management, Coastal law enforcement
education and outreach Regulation

External Annual program preparation Revenue

revenue sources and budgeting generation

Phase 4
Monitoring and evaluation

Multisectoral and inter-LGU participation and resource sharing

 CRM Key Result Areas (Benchmarks)
1. Multi-Year CRM Plan
2. Coastal Resource Assessment
3. CRM-Related Organizations
4. Annual CRM Programming and Budgeting
5. Shoreline/Foreshore Management
6. Best CRM practices being implemented:
a. Local Legislation
b. Municipal Water Delineation
c. Coastal Zoning
d. Fisheries Management
e. Coastal Law Enforcement
f. Marine Protected Area
g. Mangrove Management
h. Solid Waste Management
I. Upland/Watershed Management
j. Coastal Environment-Friendly Enterprise Development
k. Revenue Generation
l. Multi-Institutional Collaboration for CRM
 Lecture/Discussion #4:
Introduction to Participatory
Coastal Resource Assessment
(PCRA)
 Five-phase CRM Process Adapted for
Philippine Local Government
National policy and legal framework
Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3
Issue identification CRM plan preparation Action plan and project
and baseline assessment and adoption implementation

Phase 5 Local legislation

Information management, Coastal law enforcement
education and outreach Regulation

External Annual program preparation Revenue

revenue sources and budgeting generation

Phase 4
Monitoring and evaluation

Multisectoral and inter-LGU participation and resource sharing

 Key content points:
¾ An essential element of successful CRM is active
participation by the entire community including day-to-day
resource users (fisherfolk), local government, national
government, NGOs, academe, private sector and other
stakeholders.
¾ PCRA is an effective process of gathering information from
local residents that involves the community in data collection.
¾ PCRA serves not only as a research tool for the coastal
stakeholders, but also as a hands-on educational experience
about the coastal environment they will help manage.
¾ PCRA results are important inputs to CRM planning.
¾ It is strongly encouraged to conduct PCRA at regular
intervals to monitor habitat and fisheries conditions as well
as current resource uses and practices.
 CRM planning and PCRA
¾ CRM planning must be based on sound information on the
condition and use of coastal and nearshore fisheries
resources. Coastal environment and nearshore fisheries
profiles and subsequent management plans are based on
assessment, compilation and analysis of
information about coastal and fisheries
resources, resource use activities and
characteristics of resource users.

¾ PCRA is an effective process for

gathering information from local
residents that involves the
community in data collection.
¾ The “local knowledge” provided is a critical component
of the background information for planning. Data
gathered from PCRA activities make up the “coastal
environment profile” of an area.
¾ Done well, a coastal environment
profile greatly facilitates – and is
essential to – formulating and
implementing a CRM plan.
One of the important outcomes of PCRA process:
Coastal Environment Profile
A coastal environment profile is a document that presents
secondary information and primary data gathered from resource
assessment activities in an organized and integrated form.
It is essential for good planning and implementation.

INTRODUCTION
Background
Special Area Management
Past Management Efforts
The Coastal Environment Profile
GEOGRAPHY
Climate
Land Characteristics
Coastal Waters
 PCRA framework and benefits
PCRA — resource assessment from the perspective
of local users, integrating local wisdom and
knowledge with technical expertise
¾ Generates information for CRM planning purposes
¾ Resource management made more participatory
¾ Community empowerment
¾ Ensures vital inputs from multiple
stakeholders
¾ Useful in CRM project performance
monitoring and evaluation
¾ Tool to achieve objectives
of CRM
 Important components
of the PCRA process
Gathering documented Analyzing and
information integrating all
information to
Observation and
participation produce coastal
environment profile
Gathering local
knowledge

Obtaining local feedback

on gathered and
observed information
PCRA offers the following beneficial outcomes:
¾ Resource users become aware of the status of their
resources, issues, and problems associated with the
decline of these resources.
¾ Their participation allows them to participate actively
in subsequent phases of the CRM process and
contribute to decisions that will be supported by the
community.
¾ PCRA is not only a research tool, it also serves as an
educational tool that takes participants through the
analytical and critical thinking stages regarding their
coastal resources, resulting in informed decision-
making and action.
¾ PCRA helps mobilize the community’s sense of
collective ownership and responsibility for the
problems and issues of their coastal environment as
well as the appropriate solutions to address these.
 Interrelated methods of PCRA
and the important players
Participant Interviewing individuals
observation and groups
CO, LGU, NGO CO, LGU, NGO

Community entry Conducting household Documenting

and preparation surveys and/or historical trends Producing
community interviews CO, LGU, NGO, coastal area
CO, LGU, NGO, CO, LGU, NGO community members profile
community leaders
Mapping CO, LGU,
CO, LGU, NGO, NGA,
Gathering Identifying and with feedback
NGO,
documented classifying Drawing calendar or from community
community
information resources, members transect diagrams members
CO, LGU, NGO habitats, etc. CO, LGU, NGO,
CO, LGU, NGO, community members
community members
 PCRA Methods
PCRA Method PCRA Tool Expected Output
INTERVIEW • Interview Guide • Socio-demographic Profile
• Calendar Diagram Form • Calendar Diagram
• Trend Diagram Form • Trend Diagram
COMMUNITY • Map • PCRA Maps
RESOURCE MAPPING
TRANSECT WALK • Transect Diagram Form • Transect Diagram

HABITAT ASSESSMENT
• Coral Assessment • Use of Quadrat • Coral cover
• Manta Tow • Other information
• Seagrass • Quadrats • Seagrass cover
Assessment • Transect Line • Dominant species
• Other Information
• Mangrove • Quadrat • Density
Assessment • Transect Line • Dominant species
• Condition
 Limitations of PCRA
1. If a more specific inquiry (e.g. coral taxonomy, fish
stock assessment, water quality and hydrological
analysis, etc.) is a primary concern, PCRA needs to be
triangulated and complemented with more in-depth resource
assessment activities.
2. There are well-known dangers of the less vocal members of the
community and the “non-influentials” being overlooked as sources of
information. Thus, it is important for PCRA participants conducting the
interviews to be sensitive to such indications.
3. Not all PCRA participants drawn from the local community may be
immediately conversant in conducting interviews and focus group
discussions. Facilitators need to exert some effort to validate
information generated and to complement such PCRA data gathering
with follow-up interviews and focus group discussions.
 Lecture/Discussion #5:
Gathering secondary
information and interviewing
Key content points:
¾ Secondary data are information that have already been
gathered or published for some other purpose.
Generally, it is faster to collect and less expensive than
primary data.
¾ It is always useful to begin any research or study by
gathering relevant secondary data.
¾ The time involved in searching secondary data is
ordinarily much less than that needed to complete
primary data collection.
¾ Secondary data can play a substantial role in the
exploratory phase of research.
¾ In PCRA, secondary sources can be extremely useful in
defining both the population and the locality being
assessed.
 Why gather existing information?
¾ To serve as an initial introduction to the locality and
the community
¾ Provide baseline information which could serve as
basis for assessing early CRM
actions/interventions in the area
¾ Lessen data duplication
¾ Help identify data gaps
 Sources of secondary information
¾ National and local government agencies (development
plans, land use plans, cadastral maps, census data,
fisheries data)
¾ Nongovernment organizations (documentation of past and
current development projects in the area, national and local
situationers, case studies, etc.)
¾ Academic and research institutions
(researches, theses, habitat
assessment, resource and
ecological surveys, water quality
assessment, socio-economic profile)
Secondary data may be collected using different
means like:
¾ Letter writing
¾ Making telephone calls
¾ Visiting offices and libraries
¾ Interviewing officials, teachers, scientists and researchers
¾ Checking data available in the village/barangay/municipality
¾ Gathering general information from the national agencies,
donor-funded projects or non-government organizations

While the benefits of using secondary information are

numerous, it has its shortcomings. Among these are:
¾ Reliability and accuracy of data provided
¾ Relevance of old information (except as baseline for
comparison)
¾ Existence of possible data bias
¾ Dependability of research methodologies employed
Gathering information through interviews
Interviewing is a method of gathering
data/information by asking questions.
The 2 parties involved in this process:
1) Interviewer(s) – the person(s)
asking the questions
2) Respondent(s) – the person(s)
who provide the information/data

The aims of a PCRA interview are:

¾ Gather reliable information for resource assessment
¾ Facilitate improved communication for community development
and institutional strengthening
¾ Understand the perspective of others in the community
¾ Find out what is important to the community
 The following data/information may be
obtained from interviews
¾ Socio-economic data
 occupation/livelihood  income
 household composition  health
 housing condition  education
 others
¾ Knowledge, attitudes, perceptions about the coastal environment
¾ Existing coastal habitats and fisheries resources
¾ Perceived status of these resources
¾ Community activities and existing organizations in the community
¾ Existing livelihood/resource management projects in the community
¾ Assessment of trends in fish catch
¾ Perceived changes in fisheries resources
¾ Existing infrastructure projects/coastal development activities
¾ Perceived problems, concerns, issues
¾ Proposed solutions to these problems
 Types of interviews
Structured interviews: Composed of specific set of questions
outlined in a specific sequence, often with closed-ended or multiple
choice options for responses.
Semi-structured interviews: Generally composed of a combination
of closed-ended and open-ended questions, with a lot of follow-up or
probe questions.
A semi-structured interview usually
involves a set of guide questions or
discussion points.
Design of the interview schedule
must be prepared beforehand and
with care.
The interview process
¾ Beginning
 Introduction
 Ask permission
 State purpose
 Set time frame
¾ Interview proper
 Actual asking of Tools or instruments used
questions
to guide the interview
¾ Closing
¾ Interview questionnaire
¾ Interview guide
¾ Focused group discussion
guide
¾ Use of diagrams, graphs
 Types of questions to ask
¾ Descriptive questions - require the informants
to describe activities or issues (Describe how
your fishing methods and fish catch have
changed over the years);
¾ Structural questions - elicit a response that
indicates how well the informant understands the complexity of the
situation (What effect has the degraded condition of the reef had on
your livelihood?);
¾ Contrast questions - provide an opportunity for the informant to
compare and contrast situations in their world. (How would you
compare the quality of life in the village now with 10 years ago?);
and
¾ Probing questions - give the informant an opportunity to analyze
situations and look for underlying causes (Why do you think the fish
catch has declined?)
 Key respondents in interviews
¾ Individuals/Key informants and opinion leader.
Selected community members who are able to provide information on
particular subjects based on their knowledge, skills or experience are
specially sought to provide information.
¾ Groups or specific sectors in the community.
Significant information like fishing practices & gears, health data,
community issues and concerns are better generated through group
interviews given the familiarity of the villagers with
one another, thereby making it easier for
them to confirm or challenge their responses.
¾ Participants in Focus Group
Discussions (FGDs).
FGDs are conducted to discuss specific
topics or issues in detail. A small group
of people (4 to 10) who are knowledgeable
or interested in the topic are invited to
participate in the discussions.
 Interviewing Guidelines
Before the interview
¾ Inform concerned local leaders about the PCRA activity
and the need to conduct interviews. Set a date, time and
place most convenient to the respondents.
¾ Obtain a broad overview of the area and the community so that you are
able to select a representative sample of interviewees.
¾ Prepare for the interview.
¾ Identify persons to be interviewed beforehand and schedule
appointments. State the purpose of the interview.
¾ Be sensitive to cultural practices.
¾ Arrange for a translator if you do not speak the local language/dialect of
your respondent.
¾ Be aware of the daily schedule of community members. Schedule
interviews so they do not interfere with respondent’s important activities.
¾ Assess length of time needed to complete the interview.
¾ Ensure all the materials needed for the interview are in order.
Before the interview (continued)
¾ Arrive at a community without previous agreed-upon
arrangements with local leaders.
¾ Conduct interviews in an “ambush” manner.
¾ Call attention to your arrival through the use of fancy
vehicles, non-conformist attire, and loud behavior.
¾ Be unprepared with your interview materials (e.g.
you have to send out someone to make copies of
your interview guide or to buy pencils or notebooks
because you forgot to bring these.

¾ Questioning
Skills ¾ Observing
needed to ¾ Listening
¾ Focusing and guiding
interview
¾ Recording
¾ Establishing rapport
 During the interview
¾ Conduct interviews in the language of the respondent(s)
¾ Begin with the traditional greeting and properly introduce
yourself/members of your team and the purpose of the interview.
¾ Advise respondents as to the length of time expected to complete the interview.
¾ Express to respondents that you are there to learn from their insights and experiences.
¾ Conduct interview informally and mix questions with discussions.
¾ Be open-minded and objective.
¾ Be respectful and sensitive to non-verbal language.
¾ Be gender-sensitive.
¾ Establish rapport and build trust with your respondents by showing interest
¾ Ask easy questions before the more difficult ones.
¾ Use indirect questions for sensitive aspects such as income, education, ownership, etc.
¾ Ask open-ended questions so that they require explanations.
¾ Make questions short and easy to understand and ask these clearly and one at a time.
¾ Show interest and encouragement when asking for additional information.
¾ Record only what is being said.
¾ Finish the interview politely and thank the respondent(s) sincerely.
During the interview (continued)
¾ Go direct into the interview proper without greeting respondent(s)
¾ Assume that respondents have all the time in the world for the
interview.
¾ Use tape/video recorders without the permission of the
respondents.
¾ Unnecessarily interrupt discussions between respondents and
other members of your team.
¾ Use leading questions and volunteering your own opinions.
¾ Make conclusions and finish the sentences of respondents, even
if they have difficulty expressing themselves.
¾ Encourage a few to monopolize discussions.
¾ Ask vague questions.
¾ Lecture to respondents.
¾ Argue with respondents.
¾ Indicate any signs of disbelief to responses given.
¾ Allow interview(s) to go too long.
¾ Ask insensitive questions.
¾ Abuse the respondent(s) hospitality.
¾ Discourage alternative views and opinions.
¾ Be gender-insensitive.
¾ Do any inappropriate behavior.
 After the interview
¾ “Clean-up” your notes on the interview the soonest possible
time as you may quickly forget the information provided.
¾ Test your understanding of the issues/problems by validating
these in subsequent interviews with other respondents.
¾ Note down your observations and add any general information
you may have gathered in the course of the interviews.
¾ Record only what is being said and what you see.
¾ Note down “quotable quotes” from respondents that you can
use in your reports.
¾ If you don’t speak the local language, use an interpreter’s
services to ensure you have correctly noted the responses.
¾ Ensure completed notes/responses/questionnaire guides are
properly identified for easy retrieval in report writing.
Lecture/Discussion #6:

Diagramming
 Key content points:
¾ Diagramming is a means of presenting information visually
to illustrate spatial and time-based information.
¾ It provides a good way of presenting and analyzing
information without having to go into complicated detail.
¾ Diagrams work best in context specific situations and for
presenting localized information.
¾ Visual construction of information provided by diagramming
helps to simplify data organization and analysis.
¾ Need to be complemented with other information-generating
techniques
¾ The more common diagramming techniques in PCRA
include calendar/seasonal diagrams and trend diagrams or
time lines.
 Calendar diagram
Calendar diagrams are very useful means of generating information
about seasonal trends within the community and identifying or
documenting cyclical patterns or changes in any one of more
variables in an annual or cyclical periods.

These variables may include:

¾ Temperature
¾ Wind intensity and direction
¾ Rainfall levels
¾ Seasonal production
¾ Fish-catch
¾ Fishing gears used
¾ Labor requirements
¾ Expenditures, etc.

The calendar emphasizes qualitative information focusing more on periods

(usually lasting a few days or more) than events (that usually last a day or less).
The periods are based on experiences from previous years.
 Sample calendar diagram on seasonality,
fishing gear, and fish catch
bangus fry
fry bulldozer
parrot fish
spear
tulingan tamarong solid
nets
tangigi, maya-maya
hook & linr
labayan
traps
nokus
squid jigger
amihan salatan habagat amihan

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
 Trend diagram
A trend diagram illustrates in graphical manner the community’s
perception of how the condition of their coastal area or community has
changed over time. By looking at certain variables that are considered
important to the community and helping them to plot these on the vertical
axis against time in years along the horizontal axis, the community is able
to see the “trend” of the assessed variable(s) through time.

These variables may include:

¾ Population
¾ CPUE by gears
¾ Mangrove condition
¾ Fishing practices, etc.

The advantage of a trend diagram is that it

provides clear and visual presentation of the
changes through time. Its limitation lies in the
fact that data provided by the community are largely based from individual
experiences, or personal recall, and hence may be subjective.
 Sample trend diagram of fish catch
20

18

16
Introduction of
sodium cyanide and
Catch (Kg/person/day)

14 dynamite fishing

12

10
Use of fine
8 mesh nets
6

0
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 1998 2000
 Lecture/Discussion #7:

Community Mapping
Key content points:
¾ Mapping is a visual technique of presenting information
on the coastal and marine resources in the area that can
be easily understood by community members. Maps can
also reveal much about the socio-economic conditions
and how participants perceive their community.
¾ Such maps generally serve to reflect the
locations/boundaries of villages, coastal and fisheries
resources, forests, agricultural and urbanized lands,
water resources as well as their present uses and key
activities including corresponding issues and problems.
¾ The use of a barangay base map is important to closely
approximate the spatial patterns and other
characteristics being revealed in the map.
Maps are some of the most important tools in planning and
implementing CRM projects. By laying the various zones, resources,
infrastructures, development activities, opportunities, threats and
issues on the map, the community is able to situate the condition of
their coastal area in a visual and tangible manner.

Various information that can be mapped:

¾ Boundaries
¾ Roads
¾ Settlements
¾ Other infrastructures
¾ Natural resources
¾ Land use
¾ Zonation
¾ Other special interests
Standard features of a map

1. Title
2. Location
3. Scale
4. Legend
5. North Orientation
6. Author(s)/Publisher(s)
7. Year of Publication
Sample of a community-drawn coastal
resource map of Badian, Cebu

Community-
mapping
participants
 Things to map
General features — may include landmarks in the community,
(katangian) road network, social infrastructure,
boundaries, etc.

— may be mapped using crayons or color

List 2 Habitats pencils following a color code which is
(colors) (puy-anan) already prepared ahead of time.

— may be mapped after the habitats.

List 3 Resources Resources are elements that provide food
(numbers) (yamang-dagat) and other materials derived form the coastal
ecosystem of tangible value to local
communities.
— include sites/locations where activities are
List 4 Uses conducted or where opportunities/functions
(letters) (gamit) provide existing or potential benefits to the
community.

List 5 Issues/problems — last to be mapped because these require

(Roman (usapin/ the earlier elements to be mapped before
numerals) hisgutanon) some problems or issues could be identified
 Habitat color codes
Mangrove (dark green) Coral reef (red)

Seagrass (light green) Estuary (violet)

Beach/offshore
sandbar (yellow) Marine waters (light blue)

Rocky Shoreline (brown) Passes/channels/

deep ocean (dark blue)

Mudflats (black) Terrestrial Area

(light yellow)

Inshore flats (orange)

Sample code for resources
1 – Anchovies
2 – Tuna
3 – Shells (clams)
4 – Dolphins
5 – Sea turtles
6 – Sea cucumbers
7 – Sea birds
Sample code for uses, livelihood,
opportunities
A – traditional gleaning
B – hook and line area
C – seaweed farm
D – fish drying area
E – marine protected area
F – lighthouse
G – fish port
Sample code for problems,
issues, conflicts
I – Blast fishing
II – Lack of land tenure
III – Beach erosion
IV – Mangrove cutting
V – Commercial fishing intrusion
VI – Lack of alternative livelihood
 Lecture/Discussion #8:

Transect Walks
 What are Transect Walks?

¾ Transect walks are walks taken by PCRA participants

across the community in order to observe the people, village
surroundings, land and coastal resources, resource uses
and practices as well as issues and problems.
¾ They provide an overall view of the community.
¾ Observations and information resulting from these walks are
then noted in a transect diagram.
 How are Transect Walks done?
¾ They are planned by drawing a “transect line” through a map of the
community to reflect the various elements or components of the coastal
zone. The line goes through or “transects” all elements of the coastal
zone providing a geographic representation or “cross-section” view of the
community.
¾ PCRA participants follow the line on the
map during their walk in order to observe
the various habitats, characteristics,
uses, problems/ issues and opportunities.
¾ It is strongly recommended that villagers
join the participants in the transect walks
and that participants maximize the time
spent with community members to
generate information about the locality’s
coastal zone and fishery resources.
 What is a Transect Diagram?

¾ Observations resulting from the transect walks provide the

information recorded in the transect diagrams.
¾ This diagram gives the user the advantage of studying
several parameters along two dimensions:
ƒ Resources, their uses, related problems and/or issues
and related opportunities are arranged in succeeding
rows; and
ƒ Geographic divisions (e.g. terrestrial, beach, mangrove,
seagrass, reef, deep sea) are found in the vertical axis.
 TRANSECT WALK DIAGRAM

Habitat Lowland/ Bakawan Aplaya Hunasan Damuhan Bahura Ilalim

Management Settlement (mangrove) (beach) (tidal flat) (seagrass (reef/ (deep
Parameter area bed) shoal) water)
Mga likas na
kayamanan (natural
resources)

Mga uri ng
hanapbuhay, mga
pagkakataon (types
of livelihood,
opportunities)
Mga suliranin
(problems/issues)

Sample transect walk diagram

 Lecture/Discussion #9:
Habitat Assessment Methods
Key content points:
¾ Habitat assessment is a process designed to evaluate the
condition and structure of environmental habitats, such as
coral reefs, mangrove forests and seagrass beds.
¾ The PCRA looks into the current conditions and relative
abundance of these coastal resources/ecosystems using a
simplified scientific method that involves the use of
transect lines and/or quadrats in the assessment process.
¾ In all 3 habitats, a transect will be utilized.
¾ Quadrats are effective tools to determine abundance/
condition of the assessed habitat in terms of percentage
cover observed.
¾ Percentage cover of the assessed habitat is determined
through actual observations using the habitat rating
criteria.
 Use of transect lines
¾ The line may be an abaca rope, a nylon
string or a fancy transect made of

Shoreline
Transect line
fiberglass. If it’s not the commercial kind, (30-50 m)
calibrate the lines beforehand with one Seagrass
meter intervals.
¾ If the habitat starts beyond the shoreline,
take note of the distance between the
shoreline and where the habitat begins and
start laying the transect line perpendicular
to the shoreline in the case of

Shoreline
seagrasses, and parallel to the shoreline

Transect line
in case of corals.

(30-50 m)
Corals
¾ To ensure that the transect will be straight,
utilize landmarks as a guide or use the
triangulation methods, a compass or even a
GPS.
 Use of quadrats
¾ A quadrat generally measures 1 m x 1 m. It may be made of aluminum
or PVC pipes with smaller grids inside or simply of small tree branches
or bamboo poles tied together.
¾ Placement of the quadrat follows the transect line and is laid down in
pre-determined specific intervals. 1m

¾ Quadrats are established every

10 meters along the transect line to
serve as the representative samples 25% 25%
of the assessed habitat.
¾ A 1 m x 1 m quadrat is divided into
4 subsquares for easy percentage 1m
1% 1% 1% 1% 1%
cover estimation of the assessed
6.25% 6.25% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1%
coral or seagrass habitat.
1% 1% 1% 1% 1%
¾ It is recommended that a suitable
number of transect lines and quadrats 6.25% 6.25% 1% 1% 1% 1% 1%

be used to serve as samples of the 1% 1% 1% 1% 1%

assessed habitats.
 Assessment methods
1. Snorkel survey
¾ Using snorkeling
equipment or goggles,
PCRA participants
lay a transect line on
the bottom part of the
assessed area and
record its depth.
¾ The snorkeler swims over the transect and estimates the
percentage cover of the assessed habitat within 1 m on
either side of the transect.
¾ May employ the use of quadrats which are laid down on the
sea floor at specific intervals, following the transect line.
2. Point Intercept Method
¾ Used by more experienced
researchers to precisely
estimate and record the
relative abundance of living
and non-living things on
the reef bottom observed within a defined area.
¾ A 50 m transect line is laid parallel to the shoreline and
should be kept at the same depth.
¾ When using scuba, a 6-7 m depth is standard. Readings
are taken every 25 cm along the line and entered into data
sheets. Observations and recordings are taken from one
end of the line to the other.
3. Manta Tow Method
¾ A manta tow survey is the
observation of an
underwater area of good
visibility by a snorkeler
who is being pulled by a small boat.
¾ Manta tow participants note their observations on the
condition/abundance of the assessed habitat at specific
intervals.
¾ Useful in generating a “big picture” of the area as the use
of a boat allows the snorkeler to cover longer distances.
Coral habitat assessment
 ¾ The goal of the assessment is to
measure coral cover percentages
within the assessed area through
observation and rational
estimations of each habitat
component.
¾ Percentage cover will not only
refer to the living corals (hard and
soft corals) but also the substrate
(dead standing corals, coral
rubble, hard rocky surface, sand).
¾ All data are then entered into a
transect data form. Point intercept
method

Manta tow method Snorkel survey

Coral reef habitat components/substrates
¾ Live Hard Coral (LHC) – coverage of stony or hard corals on
the bottom or part of the bottom
¾ Live Soft Coral (LSC) – coverage of soft corals attached to
the bottom
¾ Dead Standing Coral (DSC) – recently killed coral still
attached and recognizable at the bottom in original upright
position
¾ Coral Rubble (CR) – coverage of loose broken fragments of
stony corals or coralline algae on the bottom, with a diameter
greater than 1 cm
¾ Hard Rocky Surface (HRS) – consolidated hard bottom or
large blocks of hard reef material not attached to bottom or
easily moved around
¾ Sand/Silt (S)
Hard corals

Dead Sand/
coral silt

Soft corals

Rock/rubble
Coral life forms
Branching Encrusting Foliose

Massive Sub-massive Mushroom

¾ Branching – at least two degrees branch

¾ Encrusting – major portion attached to substratum as a laminar plate
¾ Foliose – coral attached at one or more points, leaf-like or plate-like appearance
¾ Massive – solid boulder or mound
¾ Sub-massive – tends to form small columns, knobs or wedgesplate
¾ Mushroom – solitary, unattached or free-living corals
 Acropora palifera Columnar branching coral Astreopora sp. Starflower coral

Acropora sp. Table coral Acropora sp. Tubular branching coral

Source: Philippine Coral Reefs: A Natural

History Guide (White 2001)
 Oulophyllia crispa Intermediar valley coral Favia sp. Knob coral Cycloseris patelliformis Hermit coral

Platygyra lamellina Lesser valley coral Leptoria sp. Least valley coral Fungia sp. Mushroom coral

Source: Philippine Coral Reefs: A Natural

History Guide (White 2001)
 Heliofungia actiniformis Anemone Galaxea fascicularis Octopus coral Symphillia sp. Sinuous cup coral
mushroom coral

Lobophillia costata Lobed cup coral Mycedium elephantotus Chinese lettuce coral Archelia horrescens Octopus coral

Source: Philippine Coral Reefs: A Natural

History Guide (White 2001)
Coral reef habitat assessment forms
Seagrass habitat assessment
¾ Seagrass habitat assessment
is highly similar to coral reef
assessment and the quadrat
size used is 1 x 1 m. The
transects and quadrats are laid
where the seagrass habitat begins,
and end where the observed habitat
ends. Intervals between transects and
between quadrats are determined by
the size and expanse of the habitat.
¾ PCRA for seagrass generally employs
the snorkel method.
¾ Participants must be familiar with the
various seagrass species as species
identification is an important
component of the PCRA.
¾ The Philippine has 16 known species
of seagrass, the second highest in the
world to Australia’s 23.
Seagrass habitat assessment form
 Spoon seagrass
Halophila ovalis
Family Hydrocharitaceae

Beccari's seagrass
Halophila beccarii
Family Hydrocharitaceae
 Fern seagrass
Halophila spinulosa
Family Hydrocharitaceae

Sickle seagrass
Thalassia hemprichii
Family Hydrocharitaceae
Needle seagrass
Halodule uninervis
Family Cymodoceae

Ribbon seagrass
Cymodocea rotundata
Family Cymodoceacea
 Eel seagrass
Enhalus acoroides

Syringodium
isoetifolium
Mangrove habitat assessment
¾ In mangroves, the area of investigation is 10% of the total
mangrove forest. Transect lines and quadrats will be used.
¾ In mangrove assessment, the percent crown cover,
number of regeneration per square meter, average height
of trees and number of species observed are
calculated/estimated.
¾ Longer transects and larger quadrats are called for.
Transect lines may run from 20-100 m, depending on the
size or expanse of the mangrove habitat. Quadrats
measuring 10 x 10 meters are also called for.
¾ Each transect should extend seaward or perpendicular to
the shoreline and should start where the mangrove habitat
starts, and ends, where the habitat ends.
 1 m x 1 m regeneration plots

10
m
¾ A series of 10 m x 10 m quadrats
are established along the transect line.
The position of the quadrats should be 10 m
consistent throughout the survey. Transect line
¾ There will be no interval between the quadrats.
Quadrat 5
¾ Within the 10 m x 10 m quadrats, establish
3 smaller quadrats of 1 m x 1 m equally distributed
as regeneration plots. Regeneration
plots Quadrat 4
¾ With the strip transect and quadrats established, the
PCRA participants count the number, estimate the
Quadrat 3
height and crown diameter of mature trees per
species in each quadrat.
¾ Each kind of mangrove located within the quadrat will Quadrat 2
be counted according to the stage of its life cycle or
age: seedling, sapling, and mature trees. Quadrat 1
¾ Data recorded on waterproof slates are later
transcribed onto a data sheet for better organization. Strip Transect 1
 regeneration plots
(1m x 1m)
4

10mx 10m quadrat

1
Seedling – up to 1m Sapling – greater than Mature tree – greater than
height and a trunk size less 1m height and a trunk 1m height and a trunk size
than 4cm in diameter size of 4cm in diameter greater than 4cm in diameter

Seedling Mature tree

Sapling
If the growth of mangroves is irregular, determine breast
height by any of the following:

breast
height

Measure
just above
swelling
breast
height
breast 1.3 m
height

Measure above
irregular growth
Mangrove habitat assessment and
regeneration data sheets
 D2 D1
D1 D=
D2

height
Fish visual census
¾ Fish visual census is the identification and
counting of fishes observed within a defined
area.
¾ It is used to estimate the variety, numbers
and even sizes of common, easily-seen,
easily-identified fishes in areas of good
visibility. This information may reflect the
health of the fish stocks within the surveyed
area.
¾ Participants must be familiar with the various
reef fishes. Where possible, a laminated fish
identification guide should be prepared for
participants’ reference during the conduct of
the fish visual census.
¾ Faster moving fishes are counted before the
slower moving fishes. Each transect covers
an area of 500 m2.
¾ Starting at one end of the line, each observer floats on each side of the
transect line while observing 5 m to his/her side of the transect and
forward to the next 5-m mark. Both observers swim to and stop every 5 m
along the line to record the counts of fish per size class until the transect is
completed.
¾ Total counts are then transcribed onto the data form.

5m

5m
50 m

5m
 Laminated fish identification
guide sample

Fish abundance data form

 Lecture/Discussion #10:

How to analyze and organize

PCRA data
Key content points:
¾ With the volume of raw data gathered, there
is a need to organize and process these
data so that these could be presented in a
summarized, orderly, and visual manner.
¾ Analyzed data from PCRA and secondary
sources will serve as inputs to the
development of the Coastal Environmental
Profile which will then serve as basis for
CRM Planning.
 Guides in processing and analyzing data from
different PCRA methods
1. Results of transect walk
¾ The group should consolidate their data gathered into one matrix making
sure that each observation is validated by the group.
¾ Refer to other groups,
e.g. the habitat
assessment group for
additional information
of other coastal
zonation like
observations of the
seagrass group on the
condition of the area
so that these could be
incorporated in the
matrix.
2. Results of field interviews, trend and calendar diagrams
¾ Data analysis will be more qualitative in nature.
¾ The use of percentages, frequencies, and averages could be
presented if secondary data is available.
¾ If these type of data are gathered from estimates of the group
and duly validated by the participants during the interview, it
is important to note how these quantitative data were
gathered.
¾ Community perceptions, like how resources have declined or
increased over time are presented as trend diagram, and
some seasonal activities and events are presented as
calendar diagram.
 Trend diagram of fish catch

20

18

16
Introduction of
sodium cyanide and
Catch (Kg/person/day)

14 dynamite fishing

12

10
Use of fine
8 mesh nets
6

0
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 1998 2000
 Calendar diagram on seasonality, fishing gear,
and fish catch
bangus fry
fry bulldozer
parrot fish
spear
tulingan tamarong solid
nets
tangigi, maya-maya
hook & linr
labayan
traps
nokus
squid jigger
amihan salatan habagat amihan

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
3. Results of community mapping
¾ The resource map is a consolidation of the information
gathered from different PCRA methods.
¾ The output of the mapping activity will then be finalized by
incorporating data that were gathered from the transect walk,
coral, mangrove and seagrass assessment groups.
¾ By doing so, data discrepancies may be filled in and a more
comprehensive data may be reflected in the map.
¾ Make sure that the legend is complete.
¾ Some efforts should be extended by the assisting
organizations to provide some glossary of common English
names equivalent to local names which most often vary from
one place to another.
 4. Results of coral reef habitat assessment

Snorkel survey method

 Habitat criteria rating chart for coral reefs

CONDITION CRITERIA
Excellent 76-100% coverage live coral
cover
Good 51-75% coverage live coral
cover
Fair 26-50% coverage live coral
cover
Poor 0-25% coverage live coral cover
Manta tow method
Point intercept method
5. Results of seagrass habitat assessment
 Status/ Criteria for Evaluation Management
Classification Priority
Pristine High or low species diversity bordering land High priority for
seagrass beds masses or islands far removed from human protection and
habitations, disturbed only be the normal intensity management
of natural elements; often form thick assemblages
in shallow waters
Disturbed High or low diversity beds occupying bays and High priority for
seagrass beds coves, near human habitations; these beds minimizing the
receive constant impacts of human activities such existing human
as slight to moderate physical disturbance and impacts in the area
various kinds of pollution that are not severe
enough to eliminate or kill the seagrasses
Altered Low species diversity permanently and completely Low priority for
seagrass beds changed or converted in to other coastal uses like management unless
fish ponds, land fill or heavily impacted by rehabilitation is still
sedimentation and physical damage possible in area
Emergent Low species diversity, largely controlled by Medium priority for
seagrass beds extreme physico-chemico conditions such as low management and
levels of salinity or variations thereof within the conservation
natural environment depending on
controlling conditions
6. Results of mangrove habitat assessment
™ Crown diameter (2 measures) - the average of the crown width at the widest
point and a second width measurement made 90o to the diameter at the widest
point.

™ Crown cover is calculated using the formula π/4d2 or 0.7854d2 (d as the

total crown diameter)

™ To get the crown cover for each tree = 0.7854 x (crown diameter)2

™ To get the total crown diameter = 0.7854(2)2 + 0.7854 (1.5)2 + 0.7854(2)2 +

0.7854(2)2 + 0.7854(1.5)2 + 0.7854(1.5)2 + 0.7854(1)2 + 0.7854(1.5)2 + 0.7854(1.5)2
= 19.04 m2

™ To get percent crown cover :

Total crown cover of all trees 19.04 19.04

Total area sampled = 2 quadrats x 100m2 = 200 = 9.53%

Total height of all trees recorded 46

™ To get the average height = Total number of trees recorded = 9 = 5.11 m
2

1
RESULTS SUMMARY:

1. % crown cover = 9.53%

2. Average height = 5.11 m
3. Regeneration per m2 = 2

Therefore, the mangrove area with the data

used in the example above is in poor
condition.
7. Results of the fish visual census
 Lecture/Discussion #11:
Writing up the Coastal Environment
Profile for CRM Planning
 Data gathered from PCRA serve various purposes.
¾ First, these are the primary bases for the development of the
coastal environment profile which are essential for CRM
planning.
¾ They are also used to measure performance
indicators for project monitoring and
evaluation.
¾ Other important functions also include:
consciousness-raising tool for the
community, and point of entry for
organizing the community for CRM.

The coastal environment profile is a document which presents the

results of PCRA field methods in ways that will assist CRM
planning decisions.
 Process in producing the coastal
environment profile
Collect relevant Complete PCRA Conduct initial Get community
secondary methods compilation feedback
information and analysis

Fill data gaps with strategic

Use profile in
Finalize profile research as required using PCRA
CRM planning
or more scientific approaches
Outline for the comprehensive coastal
environment profile
List of Tables
List of Figures
List of Acronyms and Abbreviations
Acknowledgments

I. Introduction
A. location
B. physiognomy or any short description of the area/geography
C. historical background
D. summary of issues
E. objectives
F. scope
G. general definitions, if any
II. Physical Features (include data by municipality, use maps or
tables or any visual where appropriate)
A. land area
B. topography
C. hydrology
D. soil
E. land uses
F. climate
III. Natural Resources (should have visuals; include species, area,
condition)
A. mineral resources
B. forest resources
C. coastal resources
1. mangrove
2. seagrass
3. coral
4. seaweed (if present; may also be included in fisheries)
5. fisheries
6. others (beaches, endangered species, etc.)
IV. Socio-Political Setting (include tables, charts, graphs, etc.)
A. political/administrative boundaries
B. demographics (per municipality)
1. population size, density, distribution and growth rate
2. household (number, members/nuclear or extended)
3. age and gender composition
4. urban and rural distribution
5. education
6. labor and/or employment, income
7. religion and/or ethnic groups
8. dialects
C. health, sanitation and medical care
D. settlements (type and ownership)
E. roads, transportation and communication, other related
infrastructure or support systems (e.g. cooperatives, fishing
ports)
V. Economic Sector (per municipality, per barangay when appropriated) —
use maps, tables, charts, figures
A. fisheries
1. capture fisheries
a. capture methods (fishing gear, types of boats and no., ownership)
b. no. of fishers
c. catch per unit effort
d. catch per species (weight) per gear
e. historical trends in catch levels and composition (species
caught, market value and composition.
2. aquaculture
a. cadastral maps to depict fishpond areas by
municipality/barangay
b. areas legible for reversion
c. mariculture types and production levels by municipality/barangay
d. historical trends in production
B. tourism
1. classification and location of existing and potential tourist areas
2. no. of employees per activity
3. revenues generated
4. description of environmental, social, cultural impacts
D. others (e.g. agriculture, forestry)
similar parameters above
VI. Institutional and Legal Framework
A. introduction
B. current state of the Philippine Coastal Zone Law (includes related
policies/laws)
C. local government (provincial, municipal, barangay, other GO’s)
1. types, structures
2. development plans/activities or projects
3. budget allocated for ICM
D. non-governmental organizations involved in ICM
1. names
2. types of activities
3. funding levels
4. future plans
E. community organizations
1. names
2. types of activities
3. funding levels
4. future plans
VII. Management Issues and Opportunities (include stakeholders and
appropriate analyses)
A. environmental
B. economic
C. political/institutional