18 MARCH 2026 • WORLD AQUACULTURE • WWW.WAS.ORG initiated through legislative and executive actions. Republic Act No. 8550, amended by RA 10654, prohibits unregulated fishpond construction in protected areas, while Executive Order No. 533 (2006) enforces Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) to rehabilitate wetlands and control aquaculture pollution. However, despite these ongoing conservation initiatives, the SPCW remains at risk due to illegal fish farming, inadequate law enforcement, and ongoing pollution. This underscores an urgent need for stronger regulations, the adoption of eco-friendly aquaculture practices, and the implementation of community-driven conservation initiatives to ensure long-term ecological and economic viability. The local community also took bold steps in implementing the Municipal Fishery Ordinance of 2019, emphasizing boat registration, regulated fishing gear use, and the creation of Fish Sanctuary Zones like the 6.8-hectare reserve in Barangay Batang 2nd, where fisher-folk report higher catch volumes and better-quality seafood. But success is not just in enforcement, it is in inclusion. Sasmuan’s Coastal Resource Management (CRM) Plan 2023–2028 aligns directly with EO 533 and is developed through community consultation and collaborative governance. It outlines strategies not just for conservation, but for alternative livelihoods, such as ecoguiding, fish processing, and small-scale aquaculture ventures led by women’s cooperatives. What Sasmuan is crafting goes beyond mere compliance, as it is a story of coastal revitalization. It’s about how a town dependent on aquaculture can thrive under the very laws that demand its The Sasmuan Pampanga Coastal Wetlands (SPCW) (Figure 1), recognized as the 8th Ramsar Wetland of International Importance, is a biodiversity hotspot in the Philippines. The wetland supports a wide array of aquatic species and migratory birds, while providing essential ecosystem services such as coastal protection and carbon sequestration. The SPCW is also integral to the local economy, with over 85% of the population depending on fishing and aquaculture for their primary income [Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Local Government Unit (LGU) Sasmuan, 2015]. Despite its ecological and economic importance, the SPCW faces significant challenges stemming from human activities. Pollution from fishpond operations and improper waste disposal contribute to the degradation of water quality. Unsustainable practices have also led to the decline of vital mangrove ecosystems, further compromising the health of the wetlands. These disturbances threaten various aquatic species, including crustaceans, which serve as important ecological indicators and valuable resources for the local community. Furthermore, environmental degradation manifests through physiological alterations in these crustaceans, including disrupted metabolic processes, accumulation of pollutants in their bodies, and increased immune system stress (de la Cruz and Cordova, 2018). The Mount Pinatubo eruption of 1991 further worsened the ecological stress by causing severe siltation and reducing fish production, compounded by climate change-induced flooding and habitat degradation (DENR and LGU Sasmuan, 2015). Efforts to address these sustainability challenges have been Crawling Battles: Anthropogenic Threats to the Crustaceans of Sasmuan Pampanga Coastal Wetlands, Philippines Karl Patrick D. Taguberi, Hannah Nicole C. Gasmen and Janice A. Ragaza FIGURE 2. Fishermen operating within the protected boundaries of the Sasmuan Bangkung Malapad Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area (SBMCHEA) Photo credit: K.P. Taguberi. FIGURE 1. Map of the Sasmuan Pampanga Coastal Wetlands. These wetlands support thriving crustacean populations, making the area vital for small-scale aquaculture and wild harvest of crabs and shrimps. Photo credit: RAMSAR and Wetlands International.
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