Coastal fisheries ecotourism education and research existence value of certain species waste assimilation mariculture, excluding brackish water aquaculture Oceanic fisheries education and research waste assimilation Source: MA 2001. The distribution of coastal and marine ecosystems in the Philippines is seen in Table 5.2: with a coastline of about 36,289 kilometers, the total territorial waters of the Philippines included within the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) are over 2,200,000 square kilometers. Of this amount, coastal waters cover about 266,000 square kilometers, of which coral reefs account for 27,000 square kilometers and mangroves another 1,397 square kilometers. The coastal and marine areas are highly productive and also under threat from both overuse and pollution. The importance of coastal and marine areas is reflected in the economic values estimated for each part of the CMR system, as well as the costs to the system from resource degradation and pollution. Table 5.2. Philippine Coastal and Marine Ecosystems Ecosystem Area (sq. km.) Total territorial water area (including EEZ) 2,200,200 Coastal 266,000 Shelf area (up to 200 m depth) 184,600 Coral reef (within 10-20 fathoms) 27,000 Mangroves 1,397 Seagrass / algal beds 978 Other coastal 52,025 Oceanic 1,934,000 (km) Coastline (length) 36,289 Sources: Philippine Fisheries Statistics 2006; Fortes 1995 for seagrass area. CMR can be divided into the following broad categories of either resource systems or ecosystems: Fish stocks. The Philippines has a very diverse fishery resource located within its EEZ: of some 2,800 species of finfish found in the Philippines, the majority (about 1,730 species) are reef-associated—dependent on coral reefs for all or part of their health. The fishing industry is divided between the municipal and commercial sectors. The municipal fishery is small scale, and often fishes coastal waters (it is often referred to as an artisanal fishery). Municipal fisheries are usually composed of many fishers, using simple technology, and producing low yields per unit effort. Most municipal fishers are poor. Commercial fisheries, on the other hand, usually use larger boats and more sophisticated gear. They may fish further offshore, catch different species (including both pelagic and demersal species), and have the potential to earn greater returns. Some commercial fisheries are overcapitalized, however (too many boats and too much equipment chasing
Coral reef 27,000 369 113 1,005 — 1,487 Other coastal 236,131 250 6 258 118 632 Oceanic 1,934,000 16 0 — — 16 All ecosystems (per ha) 2,200,200 49 2 45 13 109 (percent of row total) Coastal 36.9 2.4 47.5 13.3 100 Mangrove 39.9 1.8 58.3 — 100 Seagrass 62.9 9.2 27.9 — 100 Coral reef 24.8 7.6 67.6 — 100 Other coastal 39.6 1.0 40.8 18.6 100 Oceanic 100.0 0.0 — — 100 All ecosystems 45.2 2.1 41.2 11.5 100 Annex Table B.3. Summary of Environmental Costs to Coastal and Marine Resources, 2006 (million PhP) Source/ Impact Ecosystem Total Percent Mangrove Seagrass Coral Reef Other Coastal Unsustainable fishing, etc. Total related to Fisheries 207.97 no est. 1,036.33 1,335.01 2,579.31 45.4 Fisheries impacts from habitat degradation and conversion 169.32 0 0.28 0.28 169.89 3.0 Fisheries impacts from overfishing (depletion) 38.65 no est. 1,036.06 1,074.70 2,409.43 42.4 Coastal development 1,890.61 451.41 0.01 2,342.03 41.2 Conversion to fishponds 1,886.19 1,886.19 33.2 4.42 451.41 0.01 455.83 8.0 Pollution 108.15 5.70 115.62 529.93 759.40 13.4 Human morbidity/ mortality 401.66 401.66 7.1 Oil spill (Guimaras)* 108.15 5.70 115.62 122.80 352.27 6.2 Harmful algal blooms 3.47 3.47 0.1 Fish kills 2.01 2.01 <0.1 Climate change 2.10 2.10 <0.1