Towards sustainable development of the coastal resources of Lingayen Gulf, Phlilppines

Abstract

The Lingayen Gulf coastal area, located in the northwestern part of Luzon island, illustrates in microcosm the depletion and degradation problems resulting from unplanned and competing resources utilization in the country. The mix of water-based (e.g., capture fisheries, aquaculture, sea tansport, tourism) and landbased (e.g., urban development, farming, logging, mining) economic activities in the area has put considerable stress on the resource systems which are the very basis of the viability of these activities. Issues or problems that are the subject of increasing concern in the area include, among others, the following: (1) overexploitation and/or depletion of the fisheries resources; (2) use of destructive fishing methods; (3) mangrove and forest denudation; (4) siltation and sedimentation; (5) coral reef degradation; (6) potential pollution from mining, aquaculture and agriculture runoff; (7) flooding; and (8) the consequences of these on the socioeconomic wellbeing of the people. Despite the apparent resource-related problems and widespread concern for the threats to sustainable utilization of Lingayen Gulf coastal resources, the information necessary for proper resources management has remained exceedingly patchy and inadequate, and the competing human uses have remained unrelated and unplanned. It is in this context that the Lingayen Gulf area was chosen as an appropriate site for intensive studies and development of a comprehensive coastal resources management (CRM) plan. Hence, a workshop has been held to assess the current situation. This proceedings contains the papers presented.