Mang Isko does not know what to do. He needs help. He needs sound advice.

He needs to decide and

act fast.

1. Based on the concept of the Tragedy of the Commons, what do you think will Mang Isko decide
on? Why? What will be the consequences of his actions?

Given the innate instinctual nature of men to lay hold of all available nonexcludable
resources, may it be for fear or mere survival, Mang Isko, would likely resort to venture into
trawl fishing regardless of the choices of his competitors. If he alone goes into trawl fishing, it is
only a matter of time before his competitors follow suit. Either way, all resource users will get
high to the average income in the short run and eventually, none in the long run. This practice
will likely be beneficial for the resource users in a short period, they will catch more fish and
gain a higher income. But in the aspect of sustainability and ecological balance, it will lead to a
massive reduction of fish populations, and ultimately decimation. Not to mention other drastic
environmental effects of trawling, including but not limited to by-catch of juvenile fishes and
non-target species, damaged seafloor, destruction of coral reefs, and disturbance of natural
habitats. This may seem like a lack of hope in humanity, but based on the data and evidence
from various environmental conditions since the Tragedy of the Commons was introduced,
humans were shown to unconsciously accumulate objects and resources, more than what is
necessary, be it man’s greed or as a desperate resort in attempting survival.

2. If ever he approaches you, what advice will you give him? Why?

It would be beneficial to first explain the concept of sustainability, and its capacity to
endure. In ecology, sustainability describes how biological systems remain diverse and
productive over time. For us humans, it indicates the potential for long-term maintenance of
well-being, which in turn depends on the maintenance of the natural world and natural
resources. Therefore, ecological sustainability means that based on a long-term perspective, we
conserve the productivity of the waters, the soil, and the ecosystem, and reduce our impact on
the natural environment and people’s health to a level that the natural environment and
humanity can handle. The natural environment is defined by the planet’s boundaries, that is the
sustainable boundaries for all life on Earth, hence, sustainability is composed of three pillars: the
economy, society, and the environment. The services of the ecosystems may it be direct or
indirect, must be conserved. However, the ecosystems are exposed to pressures, such as
pollution, energy production, climate and environmental impact, and anthropogenic activities.
To ensure that the development does not go awry, we must make long-term sustainability an
issue in policies, products, production, and resource efficiency.

Therefore, if we must align our goals to long-term sustainability, we must also re-evaluate
our efforts and think through our impacts on the environment. It means means meeting our
own needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own. Taking
Mang Isko’s situation into account, I would explain the consequences for each option on his
dilemma, along with its viable consequences, while imprinting the idea of the small harvest
policy as the best-case scenario for everyone. The income may be low or even decrease, but
considering its long-term effects and sustainability, it would be a win-win situation for the
resource users and the environment. This way, he can visualize the long-term effects of his
would-be choice, which can hopefully assist in his decision-making. Further considering it, I
would also advise him to cooperate with the local government and management organizations
such as the DENR, so they could help suggest adequate applications, new policies, and
intervention to best solve this dilemma, since the gaps and conflicts on policy and regulations of
coastal management usually result to an unorganized and inefficient method instead of an
integrated approach. Hopefully, with proper political enforcement, improved institutional
linkages, and coordination on implementation, existing laws will become more effective and
fully utilized in achieving their intended ends, and fishermen like Mang Isko will never have to
be troubled by this dilemma again.