Apo Island: Successful Reefs Conservation in the Philippines
Apo Island is a small island located in the central region of the Philippines. It is a relatively flat island made of volcanic rock. The beautiful beaches are covered in white sand. There is one hill which reaches about 670 feet (200 m) high located at the northern end of the island.
Most of the villagers live on the southern part of the island where it is flat. About 1,000 people live on Apo Island.
There is a dive shop, two small hotels, a restaurant, a community store, a community center, and a grammar school. There aren’t any cars on the island and electricity is only available for three hours per night by generator.
Beyond the village is a lush mangrove forest and shallow lagoon and coral reefs surround the island.
Destructive fishing methods
Fishermen have been using destructive fishing methods for decades. These methods include the use of cyanide and dynamite to kill or stun the fish. Cyanide and dynamite also wreak havoc on the coral animal itself the foundation of a healthy and stable reef ecosystem.
Many of the reefs have been destroyed and many of the fish have moved to other reefs where they can find food and a stable home. Between 70 and 90 percent of all fish caught by fishers depend on a coral reef at some point in their life. A blasted reef has only one-twentieth as much coral and one-tenth as many fish as a healthy reef.
Unhealthy reefs resulted in fishermen catching fewer fish, forcing the fishermen to travel in search of healthy reefs with more fish. The fishers became frustrated because they had to travel so far to make a living. They didn’t realize that the cyanide and dynamite they used killed the corals on the reef.
The fishers also didn’t understand that the corals were alive and all the other animals relied on healthy coral to keep the ecosystem thriving.
Silliman University of Dumaguete
In the late 1970’s, Filipino scientists from Silliman University, a university located on a nearby island in a city named Dumaguete, noticed that Apo’s reefs were declining in health.
The scientists worked with graduate students, researchers and social workers to create a program for the people of Apo Island in which they could fish their reefs while also protecting them. The aim of the program was to improve the health of the reef.
The program required the fishers to stop using the harmful fishing methods. They were asked to only use fishing techniques which did not destroy the corals. The proposed community-based management program would improve the health of the reef and eventually revive depleted fish stocks.
Educating the fishermen
As a start to this conservation program, the crew from Silliman University began conducting educational programs, geared toward teaching the islanders about the basics of coral reef ecology.
The researchers took the Apo islanders snorkeling and scuba diving so they could see the corals up close – to see them moving, eating, and even reproducing.
The islanders were amazed – they had no idea the corals were alive! They thought the corals were colorful rocks and didn’t realize the cyanide and dynamite they were using was killing the corals.
Community-based management
Once they understood the importance of keeping the corals healthy, the group from Silliman University introduced the people of Apo to the idea of a community-based management program. Through their research and experience studying other reefs, the scientists proposed that the islanders designate a quarter of their reef as a reserve or an area where they wouldn’t fish.
On the rest of the reefs, the fishers could fish, but only using methods that wouldn’t hurt the corals. In order to keep others from destroying their reefs, the people of Apo had to patrol their reefs, ensuring that visitors followed the new fishing regulations. All of the islanders were supportive of the idea of being able to protect their reefs while still utilizing them. Managing the reef would allow them to have fish for food and livelihood while preserving it for future generations.
Success
Serving as a nursery and feeding station for fish, populations within the reserve rapidly increased. Within just a few years, the numbers of fish, invertebrates – especially coral – were on the rise. The reserve gave the animals a safe place to reproduce, so it filled with fish, which spilled over into other areas where they allowed non-destructive fishing.
Soon fisherman reported that daily catches had increased to three times what they had been. And they were able to make a short commute to work instead of traveling many hours to reach healthy reefs for fishing.
Economy expansion
Apo’s economy expanded outward to include additional forms of livelihood, like artisans, which removed some of the pressure on the reef, as it was no longer their only source of income. Islanders began weaving mats, selling beautifully patterned sarong style skirts and t-shirts advertising the success of their marine reserve.
Soon a cooperative restaurant opened as well. The village even elected a leader called a Barangay to organize community activities. Like the mayor of a city, the Barangay enforces the town laws and sanctuary rules.
3x catches in five years
Soon after setting up the sanctuary, villagers saw an increase in the amount of life on the reef. Animals flourished on the protected areas, and spilled over onto the fishing zones. Catches tripled in five years, bringing more food and secure jobs to the island.
In addition to serving as a feeding station and nursery for fish, the sanctuary has generated a significant amount of income for villagers by attracting more and more recreational snorkelers and divers.
The increase in animals on the reefs motivated the people of Apo to maintain the sanctuary. Extra food and animals to sell to the markets are more available than ever. Careful management has guaranteed fish for future generations. The people of Apo have never seen so many animals on their reefs. Clearly, it was worth their while to spend the time and energy maintaining the sanctuary.
Model for other programs
Since its beginning, the community-based management program on Apo Island has served as a model for other programs. People from around the world, including people involved in Project Seahorse, travel to Apo Island to learn how a community can manage and use its natural resources.
Just as Silliman University helped the people of Apo Island to manage their reefs, the islanders of Apo are teaching other communities how to manage their own natural resources.
Awarded best managed reef in the Philippines
In 1996, the villagers of Apo Island won an award for the best managed reef in the Philippines. The award recognized their tremendous dedication in setting up and maintaining their community-based management program.
With the award money, the islanders of Apo bought concrete and mixed it with their own sand and washed-up coral rubble to build a road through the center of town. Over a decade and a half later the Apo Reserve was established, it continues to succeed grow.
In the future, Apo residents hope to extend the territory of the sanctuary and continue to develop other new and innovative sources of income that do not rely on the reef.
A1 Permalink : Philippine Travel | top of page