Thesis (BS Agribusiness Economics) -- University of the Philippines Mindanao, July 2022

To guard marine resources, marine protected areas (MPA) have been established. Using Bootstrapped Data Envelopment Analysis, this study measured and compared the technical efficiencies of coastal fishers from 20 MPA and 21 non-MPA villages in five municipalities of Davao Gulf. From panel data with 1619 observations, the results showed that fishers from MPA sites were less technically efficient compared to fishers in non-MPA sites, MPAs displaced fisherfolks which resulted to opportunity costs and increased expenses, and thus, lower efficiency. Data also showed that only four of the 21 MPAs were properly managed. This mismanagement may have contributed to the contrast in technical efficiencies found. However, further investigation revealed that proper management of MPAs have positive and significant effects on technical efficiency. With this, the study concluded that enforcing fishing restrictions should be accompanied by proper management of MPA sites in order to improve the technical efficiency of fishers, and at the same time, preserve the marine resources. Significant drivers of technical efficiency include: family size (non-MPA and pooled samples), boat length (MPA and pooled samples), boat ownership (MPA samples) and the number of fish species caught (MPA, non-MPA, and pooled samples). Meanwhile, factors which have inverse relationships with technical efficiency include: fishing as main source of income (MPA samples), and the use of motorized boats (MPA, non-MPA, and pooled samples). To augment the economic costs of MPA establishment, opportunities for the diversification of affected fishers? incomes need to be put in place. Other recommendations include financial subsidies, support for the nutrition and education of fishers? children, expansion of MPA network, proper management of MPAs, and inclusion of fishers? fishing ground and assessment of fish densities in future studies.