Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
4.2 For ponds with active FLAs and the fish yield is not anymore financially
sustainable, production needs to be optimized and pond size may be reduced to as
small as possible whereby a 4:1 mangrove-pond area ratio may be followed to restore
and maintain the ecological health of the system (Primavera, 2000; Samson and
Rollon, 2008; Primavera and Esteban, 2008)
This option particularly addresses brackish-water ponds with FLAs but are not operating
sustainably. Technical assistance from concerned agencies (i.e. BFAR) must be sought to
optimize the production of these ponds. However, it may also be that the reason for the
under productivity of these ponds is that the area may not anymore be suitable for
production hence the strategy on reducing the pond size and following the 4:1 mangrove-
pond area ratio is being put forward (Primavera, 2006). This option on the reversion of
some ponds with existing FLA to mangroves will require joint efforts from concerned
agencies (i.e. Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), BFAR,
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)) and the institutionalization of
strategies on how the pond operators will be convinced to reforest their underutilized
ponds. Strategies may be in the form of incentives like granting of awards for operators
with the most environment friendly operations. Another strategy may be is to highlight
the importance of these reverted areas in bringing back mangrove goods and services
which may become a sustainable source of income in the form of mangrove associated
fisheries. The role of these former mangrove areas in mitigating the impacts of climate
change such as sea level rise and increased storminess may also convince pond owners to
reforest their idle and unproductive ponds. A more political-institutional approach will be
to strengthen the monitoring of pond operations such that the 5 years limit for
unproductive ponds will be imposed and those ponds will be reverted back to DENR. For
the government, specifically BFAR, this is an opportunity to improve its system of
monitoring and evaluation of existing FLAs in order to sustainably maximize the
potential yield of these leased areas. Conservatively if strategically implemented, this
option may yield a net income of US$657 million in 10 years.
4.3 For ponds with expired FLAs and the pond existence is necessary based on
bioeconomic analysis, reapply FLA and optimize fish yield (Samson and Rollon, 2008)
For brackish-water ponds with expired FLAs, the management strategy will require a
balance between the importance of the pond area for fish production and the importance of
these areas in restoring its natural ecological health and function (Janssen and Padilla, 1999;
Barbier, 2000). The importance of the pond for fish production should not only be assessed
in terms of what the operators can gain from it but also if its needed in a broader context of
fish production in an area. For example, if an area is a major source of fisheries products and
the non-operation of some ponds will cause a disruption on the supply, then production
must be sustainably optimized to meet the target volume. This kind of assessment must be
included in the procedures being followed by BFAR before renewing the lease agreement of
expired FLAs. A more rigorous evaluation of the production efficiency of the pond must be
developed to ensure the optimal use of the leased area. Pond operators must be required to
submit a regular report of their production, as well as their income during the period when
the lease agreement is in effect. This report must first be reviewed by BFAR before granting
renewal.
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