FISHING BEYOND THE MARGINS OF THE URBANIZING FRONTIER: Mainstreaming Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK) of Talim Island Fisherfolks amidst Unsustainable Resource Extraction in Laguna de Bay

Abstract

Laguna de Bay, the Philippines’ largest freshwater lake, is undergoing socio-ecological transformations driven by metabolic flows from Metro Manila, the country’s capital region. This positions the lake as an urbanizing frontier and a crucial resource to the capital’s city-making. Among those affected are fisherfolk who depend on the lake for their livelihood and possess local ecological knowledge (LEK) that sustain the lake environment. However, there is limited understanding of how frontier-making reshapes such knowledge systems. Given these conflicts and potentialities, this study examines the impact of unsustainable resource extraction driven by Laguna de Bay’s role as an urban frontier on the LEK of a fisherfolk community on Talim Island, Cardona, Rizal. Employing qualitative action research, it utilizes participatory rural appraisal (PRA) techniques, such as resource mapping, seasonal calendaring, and trend analysis. Through these, it collaboratively weaves grassroots narratives of LEK, encompassing knowledge of aquatic ecosystems, traditional fishing practices, and environmental awareness. These accounts reveal massive capitalist extraction occurring in the lake: in the form of fish (through large-scale aquaculture), water (extracted by Maynilad and Manila Water), energy (via floating solar projects), and development infrastructure (Laguna Lakeshore Road Network). Such urban provisioning creates metabolic rifts that disrupt the lake’s socio-ecological system and reconfigure Talim Island fisherfolk’s LEK. Notwithstanding, fisherfolk actively leverage their knowledge systems as a tool for adaptation and resistance. As such, the study advocates recognizing LEK’s intrinsic value to strengthen pro-fisherfolk approaches in Laguna de Bay’s conservation, management, and rehabilitation, while promoting equitable resource governance and advancing ecological justice.