Community-based abalone farming project in Isla de Gigantes, Carles, Iloilo: Extent of participation of cooperative members in aquaculture livelihood project

Abstract

This study determined the extent of participation of the members of a fishing cooperative in the community-based abalone farming livelihood project in Isla de Gigantes in Carles, Iloilo and the influence by the socio-demographic characteristics, fishery related activities and their knowledge about aquaculture. The study also determined the respondents’ reasons for participating/not participating as well as the perceived socio-political influence on their extent of participation and benefits they will get from the abalone farming project.

Structured interview questions were used during the one-on-one interview with cooperative members and semi-structured interview questions for in-depth interviews with key informants.

The Cramer’s V-test showed that the socio-demographic characteristics of the cooperative members did not influence their extent of participation in the livelihood project. Similarly, the influence of fishery related activities on extent of participation using Gamma did not reach the significant level as well as the chi-square test of influence on knowledge about aquaculture on their extent of participation.