Fisher s Participation in Environmental Monitoring: The case of coral reef monitoring in Tingloy, Batangas

The five-island municipality of Tingloy is known for its coral reefs. However, these reefs are being threatened by man-made stresses and natural disturbances. Thus, a methodological framework was developed through the integration of scientific and indigenous knowledge in determining and assessing the present status of coral reef ecosystem. This study aimed to facilitate and encourage fishers participation in the development process of the integrated methodological framework. The framework was conceived by the combined efforts of fishers and the different institutions in the area. The fishers were interviewed, and a smaller group from them was trained and they participated in monitoring the coral reef environment for the whole year. The developed methodological framework was applied and the condition of the coral reef ecosystem was determined. The data gathered served as the baseline information of the coral reef environment in the area, while the monitoring framework developed can serve as an overall guide for monitoring activities in the future.