Ecosystems Improved for Sustainable Fisheries (ECOFISH) Project Year 4 Semi-Annual Report (01 October 2015– 31 March 2016)

The project is supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and managed by Tetra Tech ARD. The project's primary objective is to improve the sustainability of fisheries in the Philippines by promoting the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM). The EAFM approach aims to manage fisheries in a way that maintains the health and productivity of marine ecosystems, while also ensuring the long-term sustainability of fish stocks. The project focuses on eight Marine Key Biodiversity Areas (MKBAs) in the Philippines, which are critical habitats for marine biodiversity. These areas include the Calamianes Island Group, Danajon Reef, Lingayen Gulf, San Bernardino - Ticao Pass – Lagonoy Gulf, Southern Negros Island, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur, Sulu Archipelago, and Verde Island Passage. The project's work plan is divided into several key deliverables, including policy studies on EAFM, MPA, and climate change; establishment of a national database on EAFM; state of the marine resources report; national, regional, and municipal EAFM trainings; public-private partnerships supporting ECOFISH objectives; bio-physical, social, and economic baseline assessments of the 8 MKBAs; scientific studies on select MKBA-specific fish species; MPA network analyses in the eight MKBAs; fisheries management plans of select inter-LGU alliances in the eight MKBAs; registry of users of municipal fishing waters established in select municipal LGUs in the 8 MKBAs; revenue generation system for fisheries management established and effectively implemented in select LGUs; and sustainable financing programs for EAFM implemented in select LGUs in the 8 MKBAs. The project's semi-annual report for Year 4 (01 October 2015 – 31 March 2016) highlights the progress made in achieving these deliverables. The report notes that the project has made significant progress in establishing a national database on EAFM, conducting policy studies on EAFM, MPA, and climate change, and implementing public-private partnerships supporting ECOFISH objectives. The project's performance indicators, life of project targets, year 4 cumulative targets, project accomplishment total to date, and percentage of accomplishment to date are also presented in the report. The report also includes a performance synopsis, initial project impacts, and a list of tables and figures. The project's achievements in Year 4 include the establishment of a national database on EAFM, the completion of policy studies on EAFM, MPA, and climate change, and the implementation of public-private partnerships supporting ECOFISH objectives. The project has also made significant progress in conducting bio-physical, social, and economic baseline assessments of the 8 MKBAs, scientific studies on select MKBA-specific fish species, and MPA network analyses in the eight MKBAs. The project's future plans include the completion of fisheries management plans of select inter-LGU alliances in the eight MKBAs, the establishment of a registry of users of municipal fishing waters in select municipal LGUs in the 8 MKBAs, and the implementation of revenue generation systems for fisheries management in select LGUs. The project also plans to continue its efforts in promoting the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM) and improving the sustainability of fisheries in the Philippines.