| Project Activities |
| Marine Protected Areas |
One of the results of earlier phases of the STAGE proram was the approval and establishment of the Marine Protected Areas by the LGUs through Municipal Ordinance 100-2002. The MPAs in Mercedes are located in the 3 island barangays. They are regularly monitored by the IIMC. The program will also assist in the establishment of new MPAs as well as their continued monitoring and suveillance.
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| Coral reefs are only one of the resources being protected by marine protected areas. |
The quadrants are utilized for determining an average amount of coral cover in an area. |
Volunteer fish wardens continue to enforce the protection of MPA sites. |
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| Policy Advocacy |
The policy advocacy efforts in the STAGE program are aimed at the formulation and implementation of policies aimed at sustainable Coastal Resources Management. These policy advocacy efforts include the establishment of the MPAs and the prevention of illegal fishing activities and commercial fisher incursion into Philippine waters.
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| Networking with the Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (MFARMCs) allows for the advocating of policies for sustainable resources management. |
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| Expansion to Siruma (Baywide Resource Management). |
The project expanded its scope to encompass the entire bay area. This is aimed at increasing the scope of CB-CRM efforts of STAGE throughout the entire bay areas and effect lasting beneficial change towards social development in these areas. As part of this, the program is expanding its efforts to the municipality of Siruma in Camarines Sur. Located on the opposite shore to Mercedes in San Miguel Bay, creating support in this municipality allows for strategic coverage of CB-CRM efforts in the bay area.
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| Support to Alternative Livelihood Project |
| The SALP program is currently being handled by the IIMC as well. While it is a separate project in itself it assists in the goals of the STAGE program by providing livelihood support to IIMC members. |
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