PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan — The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Mimaropa is inviting local vessels and large commercial fleets to catch fish in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) to help meet the country’s fish consumption targets.
Robert Abrera, BFAR assistant regional director, said Wednesday the move is to give respite to over-exploited fishing areas and allow certain species of fish to mature and repopulate.
“Ini-encourage natin kasi ang ating mga mangingisda kasi ‘yang WPS ang less exploited area, para makapahinga din ang ibang fishing grounds at makaparami ang ilang fish species (We are encouraging our fishermen to catch fish in the WPS because it is a less-exploited area so that other fishing grounds can also rest and some fish species can increase in population),” he said.
Abrera said it is the reason why the BFAR constructed a community fish landing center and the Bottom Up Budgeting (BUB) ice plant project on Barangay Pag-Asa Island, Kalayaan municipality.
These facilities, he said, are in line with the fisheries poverty reduction initiative of the BFAR.
He added that they are in Kalayaan to provide appropriate post-harvest handling and processing system to reduce losses and increase income.
“Alam ko nagagamit na ang mga iyon (I know the facilities are now being used),” Abrera pointed out.
He said local fishermen with about 20 gross tonnage fishing vessels can catch fish in the WPS not only those from Mindoro, Zambales, and the Panay Islands, and largest industrial fleets from Navotas and Cebu.
Abrera was in the city for the declaration of the closed fishing season for roundscad (galunggong) which is now on its fourth year. (Celeste Anna Formoso/PNA)