UP and AQD authors promote CRM book in Manila

By Development Communication Section / ND Salayo

The book “Coastal resources management: perspectives from the social sciences” was launched anew on 12 March at Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City, Philippines for the benefit of target readers such as non-government organizations (NGOs), academe, and government agencies in Metro Manila.

Book editor Dr. Ida Siason said that the funding from DA-BAR (Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Agricultural Research) for publication was a critical assistance to authors. BAR Director Dr. Nicomedes Eleazar in turn acknowledged that CRM is a critical issue to development and encouraged all fishery stakeholders to get involved.

Representatives from NGOs and the academe were invited to give their insights on the book.

• Ms. Jovelyn Cleofe of the Center for Empowerment and Resource Development noted the roles of women in fisheries & aquaculture that are discussed in the book; however, she said there are many more gender and development activities in the field that need to be documented
• Mr. Dennis Calvan of the NGOs for Fisheries Reform said that the book revealed that there are local government units still ill-prepared to fully assume responsibility for managing aquatic resources. He agreed with the book recommendation that national oversight and coordination with state institutions and supporters in civil society should be established for CRM
• Dr. Marie Antonette Meñez of UP (University of the Philippines) Diliman – Marine Science Institute pointed out that the book included market mechanisms within the CRM framework but there is still information asymmetry, that is, small-scale fishers often have less market knowledge, and this needs to be addressed to empower fishers

The book was first launched on August 2013 at UP Visayas, Iloilo City. AQD scientist Dr. Nerissa Salayo is one of the chapter authors who wrote about market and fisheries development.