TABLE OF CONTENTS Director In Action CNFIDP 2021-2025: Forging the Path Ahead for the Fishery Sector DA-BFAR Launching Ceremony of Steel-Hulled Ringnet Fishing Boats DA, BFAR’s SAAD Program Aids Poor Sectors of Agriculture The Editor’s Note BFAR Lambaklad Projects Improve Fish Catch of Municipal Fisherfolk Revitalizing Catanduanes’ Mangrove Crab Industry through Legislated Nurseries 3 4 6 9 16 20 23 MSMEs On Spotlight 26
ADVISORY BOARD Eduardo B. Gongona Director Drusila Esther E. Bayate Asst. Director for Research, Regulations and International Engagements Atty. Demosthenes R. Escoto Asst. Director for Administrative Services Sammy A. Malvas Asst. Director for Operations EDITORIAL BOARD Nazario C. Briguera Editor-in-Chief Kaye Kirsteen M. Alegado Junior Editor Mary Joyce S. Kipte Renielle N. Capanzana Mark Kevin P. Reginio Micah Bernadette T. Manalo Xeane Izec T. Atienza Writers Joyce Ann A. Javier Lay-out Artist Glaiza R. Hernandez Technical Researcher Crisel S. Marcelo Distribution Zoilo M. Aquino Randy Emmanuel M. Dela Cruz and Regional Information Officers Photographers Regional Advisers Regional Directors CAR - Lilibeth Signey I - Rosario Segundina Gaerlan II - Angel Encarnacion III - Wilfredo Cruz NCR - Hannibal Chavez IVA - Sammy Malvas IVB - Elizer Salilig V - Nelson Bien VI - Remia Aparri VII - Allan Poquita VIII – Juan Albaladejo IX - Isidro Velayo, Jr. X - Teodoro Bacolod, Jr. XI – Raul Millana XII - Alfeo Piloton XIII - Omnia B. Olama, OIC (January 7 - March 3) - Nilo S. Katada, Ph.D. BARMM Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Agrarian Reform - Minister Mohammad Yacob Regional Information Officers Rodelyn Foronda Remely Lachica Jamille Ann Estolas Rhodamel Soriano Aileen Silva Jemimah Keren Carag Mildred Alan Rosalie Cuyugan Lanie RJ Lamyong Elvira Lutero Mary Frietzy R. Alvarez Dennis Macalindong Veverlyn Samadan Jenie Gardon-Loyola Jessica Cordova Nonie Enolva Joel Abalayan Alma Saavedra Christine Gresola Imelda Kimpa Jessie Acapulco Jixselynn Portacion Ma. Erika Kristabelle Guerrero Omar Sabal Andy Ordoña Concepcion Canlas Johanna Mae Padama The Fish Files Magazine is published by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resourcesand distributed free of charge to interested individuals and institutions associated with fisheries and aquatic resources. You may send contributions to: The Editor, Fish Files Magazine Fisheries Building Complex, BPI Compound, Visayas Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City Email: [email protected] [email protected] THE EDITOR’S NOTE The Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources has a clear institutional mandate to ensure the protection and sustainable development and management of the country’s fisheries and aquatic resources. While the mandate of the DA-BFAR can generally guide the agency in the design and implementation of its programs and projects, this will not adequately address the need for specific strategies to plot the direction of the whole fisheries industry towards improved competitiveness. Instrumental to the improvement of the fisheries industry is the Comprehensive National Fisheries Industry Development Plan (CNFIDP), which the fisheries stakeholders themselves have crafted. The result of a series of consultation activities among the members of the fishery sector, the CNFIDP provides the comprehensive framework for promoting optimal development and long-term sustainability of benefits derived by the country from its fisheries and aquatic resources. The CNFIDP also sets the goals of the fisheries industry in such a way that it will be able to contribute to food security. Indeed, the importance of the CNFIDP cannot be overemphasized. Hence, it is timely that this edition of Fish Files highlights the updated CNFIDP 2021-2025. A document which sets the development targets and priorities of the fishery sector for five years, the updated CNFIDP requires a communication platform such as the Fish Files in order for fishery stakeholders as well as the general public to know, understand, and appreciate its content. We note, however, that it is not enough that the goals and the strategies laid out in the CNFIDP are understood and appreciated. Both the government and the stakeholders have the shared responsibility to ensure that the targets are achieved by taking specific and concrete actions within the agreed period. It would be so unfortunate if a document as useful as the CNFIDP would sit on the shelf only to gather dust. SHAPING THE FUTURE OF THE PHILIPPINE FISHERIES THROUGH CNFIDP
DIRECTOR IN ACTION DIRECTOR IN ACTION DIRECTOR IN ACTION Commodore Eduardo B. Gongona, PCG (Ret.) DA-BFAR National Director DIRECTOR IN ACTION 4 | FISH FILES 1st QUARTER 2022
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6 | FISH FILES 1st QUARTER 2022 On February 28, 2022, the Department of Agriculture - Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) inaugurated two steelhulled ringnet fishing boats in Sual, Pangasinan as part of the project to allocate and distribute 37 units of fishing vessels, including four units of steel-hulled ringnet, six units of fiberglassreinforced plastic (FRP) bag net, and 27 units of FRP handline fishing vessels. The project is under the overall DA-BFAR program of capacitating municipal fisherfolk through technology and financial support to municipal and small-scale fisherfolk. The program, which is implemented through the Capture Fisheries Division (CFD), Marine Fisheries Development and Multimission Vessel Operations Center, and Regional Fishery Offices (RFOs), is set at increasing the municipal fisherfolk’s contribution to food security and improving their socio-economic well-being. In August 2020, Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar gave a marching order to help coastal communities grow and prosper through appropriate policy and production support systems, tailored-fit to each region’s potential and comparative advantage. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources spearheaded the allocation and distribution of 62-footer fishing boats to municipal fisherfolk in order to upgrade and capacitate municipal fisherfolk by increasing their fishing vessels’ capacity and efficiency in catching resilient fisheries species. This government intervention is also about improving the traditional practices of municipal fisherfolk. Unlike the traditional municipal fishing vessels, the 62-footer fishing vessels are bigger and strongly built to house far more advanced and appropriate fishing technologies. The boats have also become more seaworthy to allow municipal fisherfolk to catch fish more efficiently and safely. In addition, the storage capacity of the vessels has also been improved to allow fishing for longer periods of time with reduced post-harvest losses. This 62-footer fishing vessels project is aligned with the Department of Agriculture’s goal of a food-secure Philippines with prosperous farmers and fisherfolk and is also under the Farmers and Fishers Consolidation and Clustering (F2C2) Program that promotes economics-ofscale operations and linkage partnership and cooperation. In general, it aims to increase production to attain food security and to alleviate the socio-economic well-being of municipal fisherfolk by improving their fishing capacity and production efficiency, increasing the production of small pelagics and tuna from the municipal subsector, and advancing their capability in organization, operation, and management of Fisheries Associations and Cooperatives in an effort to help them become sustainable. DA-BFAR LAUNCHING CEREMONY OF STEEL-HULLED RINGNET FISHING BOATS
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8 | FISH FILES 3rd 8 | FISH FILES 1 QUARTER 2021 st QUARTER 2022 In terms of streamlining the implementation of the project, DA-BFAR’s Capture Fisheries Division and the Marine Fisheries Development and Multi-mission Vessel Operations Center (MFD - MMVOC), through the assessment and recommendations of RFOs, have identified areas and partner/beneficiary groups for the 62-footer fishing vessels based on the following factors: available and capacity of fish resources, appropriate fishing technologies, and partner/ beneficiary qualifications. To effectively transfer the technology and expertise in handling, managing, and operating the said vessels, the Bureau will conduct capacity building and training activities to fisherfolk cooperative organization and management in collaboration with Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), onsite technical orientation and training/mentoring on the fishing boat and gear operations, and maintenance for vessel officers and crew. The management and operation of the fishing vessels will be turned over by DA-BFAR to its identified fisherfolk cooperatives under a Memorandum of Agreement which will stipulate the respective duties, roles and responsibilities of project partners and implementers (DA-BFAR, LGUs and fisherfolks cooperative/group). During the launching ceremony of the steelhulled ringnet fishing boats, Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar emphasized the need to modernize the agricultural sector. In his speech, Secretary Dar said, “The Department of Agriculture will continue to be proactive in protecting our fishing grounds for the welfare of our local fishers. Adequate protection measures are already in place, thus what’s left in our hands are effective management of resources. Let us always remember that fish and fishery products are essential elements in the future of a sustainable food system. Let us modernize the sector in a big way in order to propel sustainability and exuberant economic returns.” “Nagpapapasalamat po kami sa lahat ng namumuno ng BFAR, sa aming regional Director at sa mga bumubuo at nagbibigay ng effort sa amin para maturuan kami kung papaano at paano namin narating itong project para sa mga mangingisda.” — Mr. Eugenio Villamor, President of Fisherfolk Association in Mapanas Region VIII A modern Philippine fishing industry connotes revolutionized approaches to realize an excellent Philippine fisheries sector that is at par with international standards. Through the provision of 62-footer fishing vessels, our Filipino fisherfolk will realize a more modernized and industrialized fisheries sector which will breathe life to the Department of Agriculture’s slogan: “Masaganang Ani at Mataas na Kita.”
FISH FILES 1st QUARTER 2022 | 9 CNFIDP 2021-2025: FORGING THE PATH AHEAD FOR THE FISHERY SECTOR Stakeholders and industry players from the country’s fishery sector have come together to consolidate their inputs and craft a strong framework through the latest iteration of the Comprehensive National Fisheries Industry Development Plan (CNFIDP) for the years 2021 to 2025. This is the next step in the development of the CNFIDP, aimed towards providing a clear and concise comprehensive framework for promoting the optimal development and long-term sustainability of benefits derived by the nation from its fisheries.
10 | FISH FILES 1st QUARTER 2022 Extensive Consultation Guided by a sound and science-based technical analysis, as well as a strong commitment to social embeddedness, the updating of the CNFIDP for 2021 to 2025 was done through consultative, inclusive, and participatory processes which closely involved all the sectoral stakeholders in its design, formulation and verification. Unhindered by the limitations and restrictions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, the sessions were conducted virtually. Afterwards, the Bureau has consolidated these inputs to serve as a guide to both policy makers and program implementers towards the sustainable management and development of the country’s fisheries and aquatic resources for the next five years. To precisely pinpoint and define the priority points for the next iteration of the CNFIDP, in-depth consultation workshops with multisectoral stakeholders were held. The consultation workshops were conducted in five clusters covering the 12 Fisheries Management Areas (FMA). Fishery stakeholders from national government agencies, local government units, the private sector, non-governmental organizations, academe and development partners eagerly joined in the consultations. Through these, stakeholders were able to identify the challenges in the implementation of the CNFIDP 2016- 2020, and form meaningful recommendations towards the programs and initiatives under the CNFIDP 2021-2025. The identification of the strategies and priority activities is based on the overarching guidance of four important concepts. First is the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM), which serves as a mechanism to ensure that processes are participative in nature. Guided by EAFM, the CNFIDP also considers the implementation of the FMA framework, which effectively subdivides the Philippines’ vast fishing grounds into 12 delineated bodies of water based on approximation of fish stocks and other science-based considerations. Another is the Garcia-Mandanas Ruling, which empowers local government units in the delivery of basic services to our fisherfolk. Lastly, the CNFIDP takes cues from the key strategies laid out in the OneDA Approach, as espoused by the Department of Agriculture Secretary William Dar. The main thrust of this development framework for the fisheries sector is anchored on the key strategies that the DA wants to establish and strengthen, with emphasis on large-scale production, commercialization and consolidation. “ — Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar said in his message during the CNFIDP launch
FISH FILES 1st QUARTER 2022 | 11 Comprehensive framework Originally, the CNFIDP was initially developed towards providing strategic directions for the Philippine fishery sector for the years 2006 to 2025, while building on the gains of the previous national fisheries plans. Over the years, it has undergone various revisions in response to the rapidly-changing landscape of the country’s fisheries industry. With the current developments, the shifting needs of the industry, and new approaches in fisheries management, an update of CNFIDP was urgently needed. Specifically, with the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, the government focused its attention towards urgently responding to food security concerns. This included policies and initiatives to keep the food supply lines open, to ensure access of fisherfolk to inputs and services required for the following harvest, and to prevent primary producers along the value chain from suffering income losses due to restrictions intended to curb the spread of COVID-19. To accurately provide solutions to the specific challenges in the fishery sector, the updating of the CNFIDP centered on five fishery sub sectors: commercial fisheries, municipal fisheries, aquaculture, post harvest, and trade and marketing. For capture fisheries, stakeholders from the commercial fishing subsector aimed to increase commercial fisheries production by 4%, while municipal fisheries stakeholders targeted a 5% increase. For the next five years, this is to be achieved through the implementation of effective management interventions as part of the key strategies and action plans outlined in the CNFIDP. This includes intensifying measures against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing, adopting and implementing EAFM in all FMAs, and identifying, planning and implementing appropriate and sociallyresponsible fisheries management tools, among others.
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FISH FILES 1st QUARTER 2022 | 13 The aquaculture sector has set its yearly targets for tilapia and shrimp at 3% and 5%, while bangus has increased to 6%. Meanwhile, the seaweeds industry has agreed to boost their production by 10% within the five-year period. The shellfish and mangrove crab industries have increased their five-year target by 2.5 times and around three times to 25% and 15%, respectively, as both aquaculture commodities have exceeded their targets in the CNFIDP 2016-2020. For this iteration of the development plan, the implementation of six strategies will be continued. This includes securing the supply and quality of fry and seed through coordinated investments in propagation facilities such as broodstock hatcheries, nurseries and laboratories; institutionalizing Good Aquaculture Practices for key commodities, thus promoting sustainable aquaculture; assuring the quality and traceability of aquaculture inputs and outputs; investing on species with high commercial potential; optimizing the operations of mariculture parks; and ensuring the climate and disaster resilience of the aquaculture sector. Moreover, the targets for the post-harvest subsector, as stated under the CNFIDP for 2021- 2025, includes a 10% reduction in post-harvest losses within five years, and an 80% compliance to hygiene and sanitation standards of all fish processing establishments in the Philippines. Additionally, the subsector aims to move forward with enhancing product competitiveness in local and international markets, attaining increased compliance to seafood quality and safety standards, providing opportunities for more public-private-community collaborations, among many strategies to improve the subsector in the coming years. Lastly, the trade and marketing subsector agreed to prioritize interventions, such as market linking, capability development and improving access to credit, which are recognized to be advantageous in weakening, if not, eliminating challenges in the subsector. The CNFIDP for 2021 to 2025 was formally launched last February 22, 2022 at Hotel Seda, Quezon City. Aside from each of the representatives from the emphasized subsectors, among other notable guests who attended the event and showed support for the launching of the CNFIDP 2021-2025 were Senator Cynthia Villar, Secretary Dar, Honorable Wilfrido Mark Enverga, Hon. Leo Rafael Cueva, Undersecretary for Agri-industrialization and for Fisheries Cheryl Marie Natividad-Caballero and DABFAR National Director Eduardo B. Gongona. With the updated action plans and key strategies laid out in the CNFIDP, the fisheries sector is poised to be revitalized in the coming years in the face of the various challenges such as climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic. This development plan stands as a true testament to the strong collaborative spirit of our fisheries stakeholders and their insurmountable drive to push the fishery sector to new heights.
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INDIAN HALIBUT Psettodes erumei (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) Distributed in Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Japan and Australia Can reach 64.0 cm in length Body oval and flat, but thicker than in most other flatfishes. Mouth large with strong teeth; maxillary extends well beyond hind edge of lower eye; both eyes on left or right side; upper eye lying immediately below dorsal edge; gill rakers not developed. Dorsal fin origin well posterior to eyes; anterior fin rays spinous; lateral line almost straight. Color usually brown or grey, sometimes with 4 broad, dark crossbars. Dorsal, anal and caudal fin tips black. Blind side occasionally partially colored IUCN Red List Status: Data Deficient (DD); Date assessed: 15 August 2019 Source: https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Psettodes-erumei.html Copyright © 2022 BUREAU OF FISHERIES AND AQUATIC RESOURCES Fisheries Building Complex, BPI Compound, Visayas Avenue, Quezon City