SOCIAL DIMENSIONS OF FISHERIES CO-MANAGEMENT AND ENGAGEMENT OF FISHERFOLK COMMUNITY IN RIZAL PROVINCE

Abstract

Fisheries co-management has long been promoted as a participatory approach to sustainable resource governance. Yet, questions remain about the extent to which fisherfolk meaningfully engage in conservation and livelihood development. In the context of the Philippines, particularly in the coastal municipalities of Rizal Province along Laguna de Bay, this study examined how the social dimensions of co-management—participation, power, and equity—influence the engagement of fisherfolk communities in native fish conservation and sustainable fisheries ventures. Adopting a sequential exploratory mixed-methods design, the study first explored fisherfolk's experiences through interviews with MFARMC officers from nine municipalities. Thematic analysis was conducted to identify key roles and engagement patterns. A structured survey was conducted to quantify perceptions of the social dimensions and their relationship to conservation and livelihood engagement. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation, and multiple regression. The findings revealed that while participation and power are present in local co-management structures, equity emerged as the most significant predictor of fisherfolk engagement in both conservation and fisheries ventures. Fisherfolk are more likely to participate meaningfully when they perceive fairness in access to resources, representation, and benefit sharing. The study concludes that for co-management to be effective and inclusive, equity must be operationalized not only in policy but also in practice. This highlights the need for governance strategies that go beyond structural inclusion to foster substantive, equitable engagement.