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Along with dynamite, cyanide, global warming and bottom-dragging nets, poorly placed anchors can rip apart pieces of the coral reef. In some of the most destructive practices, such as the highly organized (and highly illegal) muro-ami operation, divers actively pull apart the reef with crowbars and chain, scaring the fish out of the coral beds and into waiting nets.
Institute of Social Order, Manila, the Philippines
Brian Wright's fellowship is with the Institute of Social Order (ISO) in Manila , the Philippines . The ISO implements community-based coastal resources management in several areas in the country. Wright is focusing his research project specifically on investigating local fishers' assessments of problems and approaches to creating sustainable fisheries on a community level. At the beginning of his fellowship, he realized that even though the fisheries provide a major source of livelihood, the fishers are unable to work toward long-term sustainability, due to problems such as insecure tenure, poverty, rapid political change, corruption and community division. They often resort to means—such as cyanide fishing—that are both illegal and destructive to the environment.
“Fishers need to know what needs to be done to sustain the fishery,” Wright said, proposing that the place to start is talking to the fishers themselves, focusing on the question of “Why are the fishers breaking the laws in the first place?” He will use the information he collects to establish new ideas and critiques for ISO or local governments.
Midway through his fellowship, Wright says he has already concluded most of his preliminary research in three different communities: one a regular part of ISO's core program activities, one a recent addition to the program, and the third outside of the program and known as a “lair of illegal fishing.” His big challenge now will be analyzing his reams of notes, sifting through recordings of interviews, and molding his data into cohesive recommendations.
“I want my research to help make ISO's programs better,” he said, adding that he aims to present a working version of his paper to ISO members before his fellowship is over. “I want the discussion both to improve my conclusions and also to challenge and prompt ISO to look at things from new angles.”
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