MANAGING THE RIVER CORRIDORS OF NORTHEASTERN CATANDUANES FOR INLAND FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT UNDER THE PROSPECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE: I- BARANGAY HINIPAAN, BAGAMANOC

*  Cstifdp Research Team,

MANAGING THE RIVER CORRIDORS OF NORTHEASTERN CATANDUANES FOR INLAND FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT UNDER THE PROSPECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE: I- BARANGAY HINIPAAN, BAGAMANOC

Abstract:

Guided by the challenges for sustainability research on observations, benchmarking, forecasting, and innovation (technological, political and societal), fieldwork activities and documentary analysis were done by a team of researchers on inland fisheries and aquaculture of the north to southeastern side in Catanduanes. Being the first of serial papers, this
report examines freshwater systems, inland fisheries and aquaculture in the towns of Panganiban, Viga and Bagamanoc using the lenses of political ecology and social representations. Building on previous works, theses and reports about the NE towns of Catanduanes, we highlight here findings of a fieldwork done in Hinipaan, Bagamanoc that intended
to benchmark on the CSTI2FDP and include some aspects of the biophysical and political ecology of water-based livelihoods. Perceptions on sustainable inland fisheries and aquaculture in relation to conservation and climate change, the exploration into the representations of the upland/riverbank dwellers of Barangay Hinipaan and determination of their management behavior as inputs to decision and activity to adopt such inland fish culture and conservation initiatives were probed. The remarkably productive fisheries of the rivers and estuaries of the immediate past, and the livelihood of impoverished rural people that these aquatic agricultural system support, are increasingly confronting a series of threats due to various economic development and other socioecological processes. These threats are in turn driven by the local
government efforts to transform the northeastern towns into economically viable aquatic production ventures and eco-tourism capitalizing on the unique biophysical and ecological features. Several shots of interview schedule administered to randomly selected inhabitants with homes located within the 500 m radius of the Hinipaan River revealed important inputs to an on-going study on technology infusion in inland fisheries. Data were triangulated by focus group discussion, interviews and secondary documents from the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO). Results show that the residents of Hinipaan were not aware of inland fisheries interventions except for projects on the KALAHI-CIDDS program. Typhoons, landslides, storm surges and flooding are not problems to the inhabitants. They have developed unique resiliencies to natural disasters as shown in their responses. Local inhabitants believe that the food fishes (and other aquatic organisms will just seek shelter in the deepest places (or natural reservoirs) known as “libtong” where bigger rocks are found surrounded with large tree trunks and boulders. The abundance of gobies, mullets, carps, freshwater shrimp, eel and gastropods among others is due to their own conservation efforts like controlled fishing, collection and simple fish extraction methods just enough for family consumption, and not using electricity for fishing. They regard the practice of planting upland rice and vegetables in the mountain to avoid landslides aside from their regular practice of planting of trees like narra, apitong and other Philippine mahogany groups. For the point of view of the policy measures that will manage the countries dwindling fresh water fishing results must include fishery management.