The Fish Right Program, through its consortium partners PATH Foundation Philippines, Inc. (PFPI) and Marine Environment Resources Foundation (MERF), commenced work with the Calamianes Group of Islands Marine Protected Area Network (CMN) weeks after the Program team spearheaded the network’s reactivation. On 14-15 February 2019, an assessment workshop was conducted in Coron, Palawan to review the status of each of the fifteen marine protected areas that make up the CMN.

USAID’s Fish Right Program is implemented in the Philippines by the University of Rhode Island, in partnership with local organizations, such as the PFPI and MERF. Aside from Calamianes (composed of the municipalities of Coron, Busuanga, Culion and Linapacan Palawan), where PFPI is the lead organization, the other priority sites of the Program are the Visayan Sea and South Negros.

During the workshop, MPA managers interfaced with resource persons invited by Fish Right from the Provincial Agriculture Office of Palawan, the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD). PCSD shared their experience and insights from implementing an MPA network plan while the Provincial Agriculture Office provided an overview of its current initiatives in creating a province-wide MPA network which CMN would also be part of. The Fish Right team also briefed MPA managers on the ecological design principles for establishing a resilient MPA network and the evaluation tools that can used to assess the MPA management effectiveness. Moreover, the Fish Right team highlighted the role of women in managing coastal and fisheries resources.

An effectively managed MPA network is crucial in putting important ecosystems under increased protection. The MPA assessment workshop is an initial step in enhancing management actions carried out by the network and the specific member MPAs. Fish Right’s goal by the end of the project is is to bring about 20% of these marine ecosystems under better management systems.