#MalinisatMasaganangKaragatan | The DA-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) of Caraga Region is banking on the Malinis at Masaganang Karagatan (MMK) program to boost the efforts of the local government units on sustainable fisheries management.

This year, the DA-BFAR Technical Working Group, together with the Caraga Inter-Agency Technical Evaluation Team, composed of representatives from the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Department of Interior Local Government, the Philippine National Police – Maritime Group, and the Philippine Coast Guard, recently held the regional MMK desk review and field evaluation on October 3, 2022 and October 11-14, 2022, respectively.

The Inter-Agency Technical Evaluators.

The regional MMK evaluation team assessed and evaluated the entries based on the following criteria; (1) absence of illegal fishing, (2) observance of off-fishing season, (3) establishment of protected marine sanctuary, (4) clean, coastal waters without any garbage or industrial effluents flowing to the sea, and (5) effective mangrove protection and rehabilitation program.

Regional Evaluation in Bayabas, Surigao del Sur on October 14, 2022.

Regional Evaluation in Libjo, Province of Dinagat Islands on October 11-13, 2022.

MMK Regional Evaluators with the LGU Bayabas during the evaluation.

After its thorough review and evaluation, the municipal government of Bayabas in Surigao del Sur emerged as the regional champion, winning over its lone contender the municipal government of Libjo, Dinagat Islands.

DA-BFAR Caraga is set to hand-over P2-million cash award (in cheque) and plaque to the municipal government of Bayabas, Surigao del Sur being hailed as the 2022 regional winner and will represent Caraga Region to the national MMK search.

Photo credit: DA-BFAR Caraga Regional Fisheries Information Unit

Read more on the MMK Program at Malinis at Masaganang Karagatan (MMK) Program.