The Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR)-Caraga formally launched on Friday, December 1, 2023, the Philippine Fisheries and Coastal Resiliency (FishCORE) Project for FMA-9, particularly in the coastal municipalities and cities of Agusan del Norte and some parts of Surigao del Norte.

In her welcome address, regional director Omnia B. Olama stressed that the FishCORE project will focus on improving the management of fishery resources and enhancing the value of fisheries production in select Fisheries Management Areas (FMAs), such as FMA-9.

Key officials from the DA-BFAR Caraga, and dignitaries from the national government agencies, such as the National Economic and Development Authority, Department of Trade and Industry, Philippine National Police-Regional Maritime Unit, Philippine Coastal Guard-Northeastern Mindanao District, as well as representatives from the local government units, private sector, media, and some fisherfolk beneficiaries are in attendance in the regional launch held at the VCDU Convention Center, Butuan City.

“FishCORE exemplifies a comprehensive and forward thinking approach by integrating sustainable practices and fisheries management and fostering the resilience of our coastal areas. We are not only securing the future of marine resources but also safeguarding the communities that depend on them,” governor Amante said.

“As we embark on this journey, I am confident that the FishCORE Project will not only serve as a beacon of hope, but also as a model for our resilience worldwide – that collaborative spirit that has brought us to this point is precisely what is needed to address the complex and interconnected challenges facing our oceans,” governor Amante added.

Surigao del Norte provincial administrator Atty. Rise Faith Recabo, ably represented governor Robert Lyndon S. Barbers in the ceremonial launch and also delivered their message of support for the project:

“This project emerges as a concrete manifestation of our shared responsibility and tangible commitment to nurture and protect the natural bounties ensuring that our waters remain a thriving source of livelihood for generations to come,” governor Barbers said.

“Let FishCORE be our collective lenses and the platform where we actually see a tangible transformation in the lives of fisherfolk communities and the restoration of our Surigao and Agusan seas. Let it be a symbol of our capacity to forge a future where prosperity coexists in perfect harmony with ecological integrity,” the Surigao del Norte governor added.

FishCoRe is a seven-year World Bank-funded project that prioritizes a comprehensive approach to fisheries governance, with a focus on the social and ecological dimensions of the Philippines Waters and its resources. It is committed to using a science-based, participatory, and transparent framework.

Among the major strides of the FishCORE Project are continuous improvement in sustainable fisheries production, equipping the fisherfolk with capacity building interventions and skills training, establishment of relevant facilities and infrastructure and effective management of the fisheries and aquatic resources through FMAs anchored on the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM).