From Reef to Representation: Social Identity Interventions for Political Participation and Marine Governance

This project leverages Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the Philippines, globally significant
but often under-resourced conservation zones, to investigate how participatory marine
governance institutions can advance democratic participation and environmental
sustainability. Combining political economy with field-based ecological assessment, the
project informs the design of a randomized evaluation in a context marked by weak
enforcement, ecological stress, and limited civic inclusion.
Rather than decoupling livelihoods from environmental goals, we support identity-aligned
strategies that allow fishers to sustain their social roles while reducing pressure on nearshore
marine habitats. By embedding conservation within locally meaningful norms and values, the
intervention aims to reinforce social expectations around responsible fishing.
In parallel, we strengthen the community patrol system (Bantay Dagat) by supporting
individuals with informal authority and key positions in local social networks. Bantay Dagat
refers to village-appointed sea patrollers who take turns guarding their waters. In partnership
with local government units, we will explore opportunities to build linkages with community
institutions—enhancing coordination, accountability, and citizen voice across levels of
governance. These efforts ensure that interventions are co-developed with communities and
responsive to the needs of fishers who are often underrepresented in formal governance
processes.
Together, these interventions aim to improve compliance, foster civic engagement, and
enhance conservation outcomes while increasing citizens’ capacity to engage with local
institutions. Grounded in the Philippine context of decentralized governance and livelihood
vulnerability, this multidisciplinary project lays the foundation for a randomized evaluation of
how participatory, socially embedded approaches can strengthen marine governance and
inclusive development.