Emerging fisheries co-management arrangement in Panay Gulf, Southern Iloilo, Philippines

This paper reviews and analyzes the experience of Southern Iloilo Coastal Management Council, Inc. (SICRMC) as an emerging fisheries co-management arrangement in Southern Iloilo, Philippines. SICRMC is an inter-local government unit alliance of five coastal municipalities to address their common concerns (e.g. rampant illegal fishing activities, habitat degradation) associated with the management of Panay Gulf.SICRMC is evaluated based on the presence of the identified eight (8) key conditions for successful fisheries co-management using the scale low, medium, and high. It is rated high on the enabling policies condition and medium on defined boundaries, leadership, conflict management, and integrated planning conditions. On the other hand, it is low on participation, local government unit support, and presence of external agents.The paper also presents the evolving role of the academe as an external agent in the arena of fisheries co-management. In the SICRMC experience, University of the Philippines Visayas (UP Visayas) served as a neutral catalyst in a politically-charged environment by unifying opposing municipalities through their common concern which is coastal resource management.

► The paper reviews SICRMC's experience as a fisheries co-management arrangement.
► SICRMC is evaluated based on identified eight key conditions.
► It is rated high on 1 condition, medium on 4 conditions, and low on 3 conditions.
► The paper also presents the evolving role of academe in fisheries co-management.
► The academe may fill the gap created by "unwilling" LGUs in a co-management set-up.