Managing fisheries resources in Danajon Bank

Philippines, is the focus of this case study on ecosystem-based management (EBM). Fisheries management is relatively new in the area, particularly the aspect of managing fish stocks with wide distribution patterns crossing jurisdictional boundaries. Never-theless, stakeholders are taking bold steps toward improving fisheries management. The impetus to take action comes from the realization that coastal habitats can no longer sustain the level of exploitation to which they have been exposed. The initia-tive is facilitated by the USAID-funded Fisheries Improved for Sustainable Harvests (FISH) Project in collaboration with various partners. The EBM approach of the FISH Project is incremental and builds on existing management systems and utilizes existing legal and institutional frameworks while encouraging progress toward ecosystem-wide management. Fisheries management tools include coastal management, marine pro-tected areas, limitations on fishing effort and gear, control of extraction of specific life stages of important species, licensing, zoning, and coastal law enforcement. One FISH Project goal is to increase fish biomass by at least 10 % in 2010 over the 2004 baseline. Monitoring data collected in 2006 and 2008 to quantify changes against baseline dat