Although the coastal and marine environments are distinct ecosystems, the river systems connected these with the hinterlands and uplands. By their structures and functions, the latter is another type of ecosystem.
Whatever the bad or good things that may happen in the hinterlands and uplands will indeed have consequences for the coastal and marine areas. The same is true with human populations between these ecosystems.
The recently-completed fish stock assessment using fishers’ perceptions we did for the South Negros USAID Fish Right Program, particularly in Sta. Catalina, Bayawan City, and Basay, revealed declining fisheries in terms of quantity and quality.
The primary perceived reasons included climate change impacts, a growing number of fishers, and commercial fishing vessel intrusion into municipal waters.
In Bayawan City, the wives in fishing households who participated in our Fish Tiangge project felt the negative impacts of both natural and anthropogenic causes of deteriorating ecosystem quality. 
One cluster leader explained that climate change has now significantly reduced fish catch. Typhoons are more frequent and risky for small-scale fishers. Another cluster leader added that many fishers now compete for the deteriorating fisheries.
Through the Fish Tiangge, we trained two women clusters in Bayawan City to make fish meatballs, lumpia, siomai, and siopao, as value-adding given its location and presence of a fish processing center owned by the city government.
As I had earlier discussed here (MetroPost, March 12 issue), faculty of the SU Nutrition & Dietetics Department trained these women in fish processing. The Bayawan City government likewise provided them with start-up capital.
But even with the opportunities and resources for alternative livelihood, the unpredictable weather conditions at present compared to the past prevented the clusters from regularly pursuing fish consolidation and processing.
Nonetheless, the Bayawan City Agriculture Office-Fisheries Division also has an inland tilapia culture program. This initiative provides additional income to farmers and compensates for the low supply of capture fisheries in the city due to the seasonality of certain species and the frequent typhoons.
Although less preferred as fresh compared to capture fisheries, tilapia processed into lamayo–partially sun-dried after being marinated in vinegar with herbs and spices–increases its value. Making lamayo is an enterprise initiated by the Fisheries Division.
Meanwhile, teaching the hinterland women in processing tilapia to fish meatballs, lumpia, siomai, and siopao has diversified its use. The Fisheries Division conducted the training for the hinterland women.
Thus, to provide the coastal women clusters with fish to process during lean months or typhoons, they can connect with the hinterland women and purchase fresh tilapia.
The hinterland women may now reduce fish processing for the market, which may be limited compared to the coastal communities, and focus more on tilapia production and trading.
This arrangement would allow coastal women to supply the local market with processed fish. Besides, no significant difference was noticed in the taste between the two types of fish when already processed.
By connecting the coastal women with those in the hinterlands through trading, fish processing becomes stable while ensuring sustainable income sources. The city government’s fish processing facility will be fully utilized and benefit more women.
So what remains to be done is to secure fish product certification from the Department of Trade & Industry and to have the fish processing facility accredited by the Food and Drug Administration.
The Fisheries Division has committed to doing these because these requirements are needed to commercialize processed fish. It can consolidate the fish products and market them in large quantities outside when fully operational and with sufficient start-up capital for the women clusters.
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Author’s email: enriquegoracion@su.edu.ph
