Apart from seaweeds farming, the women complement their husbands and men by engaging in light fishing, guarding their community’s fish sanctuary from illegal fishing. Their fish sanctuary is their community’s most priced treasure and natural resource. It is a rich marine ecosystem that is also home to a variety of sea creatures, such as the kulambutan, isda la paz, abalon, pugita, balat, and many more. Pre-COVID-9, the locals earn extra income from tourism. But since COVID-19 in March 2020, tourism was banned to protect the residents from contagion. This has significantly reduced the locals’ involvement in tourism. When asked about the details of the benefits they draw from the sea and what they do with these, our respondents regarded the sea as their family’s primary source of daily food and income. All women mentioned that they would usually divide their husband’s/men’s catch of the day into two: family consumption and selling. The portion they get for the family is usually good for only a day. So, tomorrow will be another cycle for survival. Selling their catch had been extremely difficult. There are no tourists or visitors around to buy their catch. In the old normal, most of them would go to the mainland of Matnog to sell their catch at higher prices. Since COVID 19, going to the mainland to sell them has become extremely risky, impractical and expensive. Some women also mentioned that their family is engaged in catching pugitas or octopuses and alimangos or crabs, mostly for selling purposes. As a woman fisherfolk who lives in a fishing community, what is your typical day like. What do you do in the house, and outside your home? Respondent A is involved in hog raising, planting seaweeds in the sea, and kamoteng kahoy in the nearby hills.

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