A field survey of the mangrove forest was conducted using the
point-centered quarter method (PCQM), a distance-measuring
technique developed by Cottam and Curtis (1956; cf. also,
Cintron and Schaffer-Novelli, 1984; Neukermans et al., 2008;
Satyanarayana et al., 2010). A line transect (200 m) perpendicular
to the coastline was established in themangrove area near
each study village. All three transect locations were accessed by
fishers for fishing and other uses (e.g. use of mangroves for
fishing gear or charcoal).