International Program of Collaborative Research, CSEAS

Comparative Study on Fisheries Resources Utilization and Management in Southeast Asia
Project Leader: ISHIKAWA, Satoshi, School of Marine Science and Technology, Tokai University
（Term：2010 - 2011）

• Outline of Joint Research
• Purpose of Joint Research
• Outline of Result

• Joint Seminars in 2010 Fiscal Year

Outline of Joint Research

Although similar fisheries species are utilized in Southeast Asian Countries, fishing methods, trade systems and consumption methods of sea products are quite diverse. Besides the management approach, fishery products’ social systems, which are in turn influenced by cultural and social diversities, differ between local areas. In this project, we will try to clarify the differences of utilization and resource management situations and the awareness and attitudes of people who use fisheries resources among different areas. We will also try to understand the use and management, as well as the differences in awareness, towards fisheries and hope to comparatively look at the characteristics of fisheries resource managements in the Southeast Asia.

Purpose of Joint Research

Japanese-Type Set-net installed at Rayong beach in Thailand.
The local fishing community operates and manages it.

Small set-net in Batang Bay in Panay Island in the Philippines.
Excessive fishing gear has become a regional problem for the local people.

　In Southeast Asian countries facing the South China Sea, some common fish, e.g., Sardine, Scads, Mackerel, and so forth are widely used. However, the fishing methods and trade systems are quite different among countries. The different situations regarding cold chain systems and market accesses, post harvest treatments and price making systems are quite different among different areas. These differences derive from the mismatches of regional awareness of the effective utilization of fish resources and attitudes towards sustainable resource management among remote areas. Hence in this project, we will try to compile detailed data and information regarding fisheries resource utilizations, awareness of uses regarding fishery activities and its products, and current management systems from field surveys. Then, we will clarify the important aspects, data and information for rational and practicable sustainable resource management through careful consideration and comparison of the data and information.

The main research areas of this project are the Gulf of Thailand which is a typical area in the continental area, and Panay Island in the Philippines which is a typical island area. Careful consideration of the current situations among these areas will provide us with a good understanding of the important aspects for rational and practicable resource management of marine resources which are common over a wide area of Asian countries.

We expect that the results of our project will strike a note of warning against current attitudes and offer an evaluation of development in which mere economic growth is highlighted. We hope that we can lead to a new standard of harmonization between development and conservation in coastal areas.

Outline of Result

In Rayong area in Thailand, we conducted field survey regarding fishery and fishery related human activities. And the background and impacts from community based set-net Fishery that had been installed by governmental support in 2003. In Guimaras and Panay Islands in the Philippines, the data and information of the fishery product trade systems and price making mechanisms have been collected, and the relationships among post-harvest treatments, values, distance to markets and infrastructure building situations were examined. Besides, backgrounds of the overfishing and deterioration of fishery stocks in Batan Bay have been examined based on the historical changes of production and trade system and investment from outsides. These field surveys and information collection were conducted by Japanese, Thailand and Philippines researchers’ collaboration.

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