BFAR-Ilocos rolls out FishCoRe project for sustainability, resiliency

MALASIQUI, Pangasinan – The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) is now assessing projects submitted for the P11.24 billion (USD209 million) World Bank (WB)-funded Philippine Fisheries and Coastal Residency (FishCoRe) project, eyed to enhance ecosystem and community resiliency.

BFAR-Ilocos Region director Rosario Segundina Gaerlan, in a forum hosted by the Philippine Information Agency-Ilocos in San Fernando, La Union on Monday, said the project will cover all fisherfolk organizations and communities in the region and will run for seven years.

Gaerlan said the project has three components namely fisheries and coastal resilient resource planning and management, which is focused on strategic planning and management for sustainable fisheries and coastal resources; modern and resilient livelihood investments, which are geared towards modernizing and diversifying livelihood opportunities for fisherfolk; and support for project implementation and management, which ensures effective execution through comprehensive support.

"The coordination with the local government units is ongoing with the project scoping. We are now validating the project proposals submitted," she said in Filipino.

Gaerlan said the project aims to address these challenges through the adoption of an ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management (EAFM) to enhancing the value of fisheries production and elevating income in coastal communities through science, knowledge, and technology.

BFAR-Ilocos chief aquaculturist Remely Lachica, during the same forum, said the project will support the development and implementation of appropriate fisheries management policies, improve institutional capacities for strengthened law enforcement, establish support facilities for the rehabilitation of coastal and marine habitats, and other necessary investments to balance increasing productivity while conserving the country's natural resources.

"We will determine the projects appropriate for the community and fisherfolk groups – may it be infrastructure or technology to ensure preparedness for whatever may happen," she said in Filipino.

FishCoRe aims to develop aquaculture and fisheries enterprises in aqua-industrial business corridors through subprojects like satellite multi-species hatcheries, offshore mariculture in climate-resilient cages, postharvest handling and fish/shellfish processing with packaging and labeling intervention, and provision of climate-resilient technologies, and storage house for dried seaweed production, among many others, BFAR stated.

The development of infrastructure such as fish landing sites, fish ports, cold storage, and mobile laboratory facility and equipment is another priority of the project.

"The project will be implemented in two Fisheries Management Areas (FMA), the FMA 6 and 9 or the major fishing grounds on the northwest coast of Luzon, and in archipelagic waters between the Visayas and Mindanao. These two FMAs were selected after a two-stage selection process where all twelve FMAs were assessed based on a set of criteria drawn and agreed upon by the Department of Agriculture and BFAR and submitted to the World Bank in the early stages of preparation," BFAR said.

The project will benefit over 1.15 million fisherfolk, small to medium enterprises, other fisheries stakeholders, and residents in coastal communities across 11 regions and 24 provinces in the country. (PNA)