Socio-Economic Profile of the Sea Urchin Fishermen in Nalvo, Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur

Abstract

The study was conducted to assess the impact of the sea urchin industry in Nalvo, Sta. Maria, locos Sur, whether it has increased family income and improved technological procedures in sea urchin farming or not. It also aimed at finding out prevailing problems encountered and it tried to look into the factors contributing to such problems and suggested solutions. With a total number of 67 sea urchin fishermen respondents, it came out that sea urchin farming indeed effected an increase of their monthly income. It was also found out that financial as well as material inputs were provided by the local officials, and that no technical assistance was provided because it is the academe (University of Northern Philippines) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) which extend technical assistance. Lack of technical assistance in terms of proper stocking density and manner of feeding came out as the main contributing factors to the different problems encountered by the sea urchin fishermen in the locality.