Recognizing the urgent need to strengthen resilience against climate risks in the fisheries sector, the Department of Agriculture (DA) Regional Field Office 2 Adaptation and Mitigation Initiative in Agriculture (AMIA) Program, guided by the DA Climate Resilient Agriculture Office (CRAO), has partnered with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI) to integrate two critical assessment tools—AMIA’s Climate Risk Vulnerability Assessment (CRVA) for crops and NFRDI’s Fisheries Vulnerability Assessment Tool (FishVool). Together, they have developed the combined framework called the Climate Risk Vulnerability Assessment for Fisheries (CRVAF), aimed at bolstering the sector’s resilience to climate-related challenges.

The framework, developed through a project with the University of the Philippines Los Baños Foundation Inc. (UPLBFI) and the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, supports investment planning and prioritization for key fishery industries across the Philippines. It covers both aquaculture and capture fisheries subsectors. 

Developed through extensive consultations with NFRDI, BFAR, and fisheries experts nationwide, and following the AMIA CRVA for crops, the CRVA-Fisheries builds on the complex interaction of exposure to climate change-induced shocks, such as increased typhoons, floods, drought, and gradual warming and changes in precipitation patterns; sensitivity based on the assumption of a high emission scenario by 2050; and adaptive capacity derived from updated available data mainly from the Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index. A harmonized set of indicators for exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity were developed using available data from FishVool and other sources that were validated by local fisheries experts. 

To demonstrate the process on how to operationalize the CRVAF, the framework was applied in selected areas within Region 2, focusing on tilapia—a key aquaculture commodity in the province of Isabela. Vulnerability maps were generated for tilapia production systems across the cities of Ilagan, Cauayan, and Santiago, as well as the municipalities of Alicia, Cordon, Gamu, Naguilian, Ramon, San Mateo, and San Guillermo.

Based on the CRVAF, climate resilient adaptation options were identified and prioritized. A Cost-Benefit Analysis was carried out for the identified interventions, assisting in prioritizing investments and providing substantial evidence on the impact of applying the interventions. 

The CRVAF offers valuable guidance for identifying areas with high potential for fishery investments. It also assists in determining specific interventions and strategies that can be applied to enhance the adaptive capacity of areas vulnerable to climate change.  

The CRVAF adds to the list of Decision-Support Tools (DSTs) developed under the DA AMIA Program, which has been working on establishing the science of climate adaptation in the agriculture sector. These DSTs are science-based tools that support evidence-informed, climate risk-based planning and serve as essential guides for identifying, prioritizing, and customizing resilience-building initiatives. (Joy Calvar, DA CRAO)