SOCIO-ECONOMIC COMPONENT, COASTAL RESOURCE USE AND PERCEPTION, AND PARTICIPATION OF THE COASTAL COMMUNITIES/FISHING HOUSEHOLDS IN TAPEL, GONZAGA, CAGAYAN

Abstract

The study generally identified and analyzedthe ecological status and socio-economic status of coastal communities of Barangay Tapel, Gonzaga, Cagayan, and also their dependency on the floral and faunal resources of water. The studycarried out interviews based on questionnaires and useddescriptive survey research design. The results of the study revealed that most of the respondents have a low level of education with fishing as the main source of income. Fishing as a source of income tells that BarangayTapel is a coastal community. Fishing activities are alsodone to the estuary where mangrove trees thrive. Most of the respondents said that the benefits derived from the coastal environments are recreation/relaxation, bathing/swimming, andtransportand navigation. However, due to natural and anthropogenic disturbances, today, benefits derived from the coastal area are very limited since there are changes observed in coastal resources specifically on the fishing ground location andvolume of catch. This generally implies that full understanding of socio-economic characteristics, coastal resource useand perception, and participation of the community plays animportant rolein the coastal resource restoration and management plans. Also, thisdatabase helps to understand the underlying causes of degradation and interventions needed in this community.