Coastal Hazards and the Challenges for Planning Fishing Communities in the Philippines

The Philippines has one of the longest coastlines in the world, spanning 36,289 kilometers in its over 7,100 islands. Of that length, around 60 kilometers is inhabited by fishing communities whose socio-economic activities depend primarily on the coastal areas. Over two million registered fishing communities engage in the fishery and other aquaculture-related activities. The country's fishing industry continues to contribute positively to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). With its rich biodiversity, the Philippines produced around 1.21 MT of fisheries products from commercial and municipal fishing and aquaculture activities, amounting to PhP92.59 billion in the second quarter of 2022.

 

Despite the significant contribution of the fishing industry to the country’s economic growth, the fishing communities that form the very backbone of industry are considered part of the vulnerable population. With the country plagued by an average of 20 typhoons annually and roughly 8 or 9 making landfall, fishing communities are perpetually displaced, and their livelihood disrupted. This, alongside unsustainable coastal development practices in the fishing sector, has aggravated the growing problem. Through a comprehensive review of literature, the study will assess the vulnerability of fishing communities to coastal hazards and recommend development planning interventions to increase their resilience.

 

Key words: coastal hazards, fishing community, planning, livelihood, sustainability