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  • 03 Apr 2012

The WorldFish Center and the ADB Knowledge Management (KM) for the Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) Subsistence Fisheries Workshop project convened 26 participants to a workshop aimed at improving fish catch statistics collection in the Philippines, with a focus on subsistence fisheries. The workshop was held in Makati City on February 20-21, 2012.

During the workshop, participants took the first step to improve fisheries data collection protocols by agreeing on a common definition of subsistence fisheries in the Philippine context. They also identified missing parameters in existing forms that are needed to capture valuable subsistence fisheries data.

Subsistence fisheries play an important role in the Coral Triangle region because of the large number of fishermen who practice it. However, the impact of this sector on food security is often underestimated. Dr. Maripaz L. Perez, Regional Director for Asia of the WorldFish Center, echoed this during the workshop. She stressed that the subsistence fisheries sector is often under-reported, undervalued, and difficult to manage because of its dynamic, diverse, and complex nature. As a result, it is frequently left out of policy dialogues. “It practically has no voice,” she said. “Nobody thinks that the reason for the high prices is because of the massive underinvestment in the [subsistence fisheries] sector and problems in the production level.”

The ADB KM for CTI project committed to preparing templates to capture the needed data. Once these parameters are approved by the group, they will be forwarded to the Philippines’ Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and then endorsed to the Department of Interior and Local Government for implementation. To find out more about this activity, follow this link.

Photo: Participants at the subsistence fisheries workshop
Credit: ADB KM for CTI Project