Nabuswang Fisherfolks’ Vulnerability and Ways of Coping

Abstract

This study considers Nabuswang fisherfolks’ management of vulnerabilitiesin life. Nabuswang is an island of agri–fishing community with a mangrovesanctuary. Though endowed with natural resources, residents still live in poverty.Thus, a study was conducted to find out how the residents, confronted withpoor fish catch and natural and man-made hazards, survived. The research designwas descriptive-analytic utilizing researcher-made questionnaires administeredrandomly to fisherfolks. The instrument was formulated based on thepreliminary interview among fisherfolks. Responses to the survey questionnaireswere validated through focus group discussion. The data show that poverty wasdue to poor fish catch despite the effort spent in raising their catch and wasinfluenced by human-made hazards, more than nature. To cope, saving for therainy days was on top of their list, but they ended up saving nothing. Some resorted to money lending, dietary adaptations, and alternative health care. Concretely, Illegal fishing practices, pollution, climate change resulted to loss offish habitat and depletion of fishing grounds. In conclusion, Fishery Laws seemnot fully implemented. Good thing, Nabuswang fisherfolks could still find waysto cope with poverty because of their positive outlook and trust in God which contributed to their sense of survival. Keywords - Social Science, fisherfolks, vulnerability, ways of coping, lived experience,natural and human-made hazards, descriptive design, Philippines