The Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) Caraga formally opened on Monday, September 12, 2022, the celebration of the 59th Fish Conservation Week with the theme: “Pagkain ng Bansa Siguruhin, Likas-Kayang Produksyon ng Isda Isulong Natin.”
The Regional Bureau organized a motorcade around the city of Butuan to kickstart the weeklong celebration, followed by the opening ceremony held at the Regional Fisherfolk Training Center, Masao, Butuan City.
In his message during the opening ceremony, Regional Director Dr. Nilo Selim Katada said that “this year’s theme calls for our continued dedication to work hard as we strive to ensure food sufficiency and improve fish production.” RD Katada further called on the local government units as enabling partners to continue the collaboration and partnership especially in the implementation of the fisheries management areas, in the empowerment of fisherfolks and stakeholders, in the improvement of fish production and in the enforcement of the fishery laws in the region.
Joyce M. Baclayo of the National Stock Assessment Program presented the fish catch report and its implication to fish stocks, while Andy T. Ordoña of the Information Unit & Fisheries Resource Management Section gave an overview of the fisheries management areas.
In his closing remarks, Senior Aquaculturist Edgardo P. Balambao reminded everyone to keep in mind and heart their individual roles in the pursuit of fish conservation which geared towards fish sufficiency and later on fish sovereignty.
Likewise, the Provincial Fishery Officers spearheaded the opening ceremonies in their respective areas of jurisdiction.
In Agusan del Sur, PFO Bimbo C. Lagare, together with the provincial agriculture and veterinary office and the local government of San Luis, dispersed an estimated 80,000 pieces of tilapia fingerlings donated by BFAR-assisted private hatcheries in the province. The dispersal took place at Lake Binakosanan, Brgy. Mahayahay – a part of tribal community led by Punong Brgy. Sergio Manlumabi in San Luis, Agusan del Sur.
The Fish Conservation Week is celebrated every third week of September as part of the Maritime and Archipelagic Nation Awareness Month (MANA Month),
pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 316 in 2017, with this year’s MANA Mo celebration anchored on the theme: “Our Nation, Our Livelihood, Our Life Source: A Whole-of-Nation Approach Towards Raising Maritime and Ocean Awareness.”
Mangrove Planting
A mangrove planting activity followed on Tuesday, September 13, 2022 at Brgy. Kinabjangan, Nasipit, Agusan del Norte. The employees of DA-BFAR Caraga delightfully planted some 600 mangrove propagules with hopes to make the ecosystem greener in the next years. The said activity was in coordination with the local government of Nasipit, Agusan del Norte.
Mangroves provide a wide variety of ecosystem services. They serve as essential habitat for thousands of species at all levels of marine and forest food webs.
The mangroves’ complex root systems filter nitrates and phosphates that rivers and streams carry to the sea. Compelling evidence suggests that mangroves play an important role in climate stabilization, possessing a carbon storage and sequestration potential considered to be greater than that of tropical forests. They also stabilize shorelines, preventing erosion and protecting the land — and the people who live there — from waves and storms.
Coastal Clean-up and Water Evolution Activity
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On Wednesday, September 14, 2022, a coastal clean-up drive and water evolution activity at Brgy. Sacol, Buenavista, Agusan del Norte, in line with the celebration of the 59th Fish Conservation Week.
The Fisheries Protection and Law Enforcement Group (FPLEG) of the Fisheries Management Regulatory and Enforcement Division conducted a demonstration of the Water Search and Rescue (WASAR), as well as the basic skills for Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS). The DA-BFAR Caraga personnel were grouped into teams for the WASAR training exercise and were taught of personal safety and survival, and basic life saving. The employees also enjoyed the series of fun games prepared after the said water evolution activity.
RD Katada said that the activity aims to foster camaraderie among its employees, and to enhance their skills in applying appropriate and quick responses to emergency situations involving maritime incidents.
SCUBAsurero
The bureau also initiated the ‘SCUBAsurero’ activity on Thursday, September 15, 2022. SCUBAsurero literally means scuba divers collecting “basura” or trash underwater.
Regional Director Dr. Nilo Selim Katada, who is a certified SCUBA diver, joined the underwater clean-up drive together with Agusan del Norte Maritime Police Station Chief PLTCOL. Arnaldo Canlas and team, Abel Wagas of DA Caraga, and former Regional Fisherfolk Director Ruben M. Timogan.
Around 80 kilograms of plastic wastes, nets, and other marine debris were collected at the shallow seabed off Brgy. Cahayagan, Carmen, Agusan del Norte.
The SCUBAsurero is an annual event of DA-BFAR Caraga as part of its support to reduce marine pollution as targeted under the sustainable development goal 14 – life below water.
The DA-BFAR Caraga officially capped off the celebration of the 59th Fish Conservation Week in a meaningful awarding and closing ceremony held on Friday, September 16, 2022 at the Regional Fisherfolk Training Center, Masao, Butuan City.
Regional Director Dr. Nilo Selim Katada, together with the division chiefs and provincial fishery officers, led the awarding of plaque of appreciation and certificate of commendation to the Regional Bureau’s key partners in sustainable fisheries management and conservation.
Various representatives from fisherfolk associations, bay-wide management councils, local government units and partner law enforcement agencies were recognized for championing the implementation of technology innovations and initiatives that promote sustainable and equitable management of the fisheries resources, as well as their active engagement in resource protection and conservation, and fishery law enforcement.
RD Katada, in his message, congratulated the 31 honorees and urged them to support the implementation of the Fisheries Management Areas in the region:
“May you continue to aspire to do or even go beyond what you can as we move into a much larger scale of management efforts through the implementation of the FMAs,”
“Let us continue to take proactive actions and strengthen our collaboration for the benefit of our fisherfolks, and for the integrity of our fisheries resources and the environment as a whole. In this way, we can hope for a bountiful and brighter future in the agriculture and fishery sector,” the regional director added.
RD Katada ended his keynote speech by leaving a quote from John James Audubon:
“A true conservationist is a man who knows that the world is not given by his fathers, but borrowed from his children.”
“Reflecting from this quote, we should understand that as OneBFAR, it is always our prime duty to work and strive for the development, management, and conservation of our fishery and aquatic resources for the future generations,” the regional director concluded.
#MANAMo2022 #FishConservationWeek #TagapagtaguyodNgMalinisAtMasaganangKaragatan
