During their regular meeting for the Second Quarter of 2024, the Management Board (MB) of Fisheries Management Area (FMA) 11 approved the Blue Swimming Crab (BSC) adopt-a-village program as an approach to implement the BSC National Management Plan, deliberated the action plan to eliminate fine-meshed nets and gears, and invited the Institute of Contemporary Economics (ICE) for a discussion on the reported decrease in aquaculture production of the Province of Iloilo. The meeting was held on June 28, 2024, in a blended set-up in Iloilo City and via Zoom.
FMA 11 MB Chairperson and DA-BFAR 6 Regional Director Remia A. Aparri emphasized FMA 11’s goals for the year, which include popularizing the harvest strategy, comprehensively reviewing the Visayan Sea closed season policy, sustaining fisheries production, and achieving a yellow rating for the BSC fishery per Seafood Watch Standards.
Aligned with the FMA 11 Management Framework, the Adopt-A-Village program is piloted in the Island Barangay of Igbon in Concepcion, Iloilo. The Barangay Igbon Kasagan Association (BIGKAS) has been supplying responsibly sourced crabs to Courtyard by Marriott Iloilo since December 2023 as part of the program.
Meanwhile, FMA 11 Technical Working Group (TWG) Chairperson and OIC of the Capiz Provincial Fisheries Office, Mr. Edwin Candelario Javier, emphasized that the harvest strategy action plan covers various fine-meshed gears, including Sinsoro, Fish Corral, and Lift Net. The discussion underscored the significant catch of immature anchovies by Sinsoro and the need for specific gear regulations in municipal waters. The MB agreed on the importance of capacity building at the LGU level and the involvement of scientists in informing the public and developing communication materials.
Scientific Advisory Group (SAG) Chairperson and Vice Chancellor for Research and Extension of the University of the Philippines Visayas Prof. Encarnacion Emilia S. Yap shared the highlights of previous studies on the closed season’s effects on sardine and mackerel catch. After a thorough discussion, it was agreed that the closed season alone is insufficient and must be complemented by other strategies such as alternative livelihoods for fisherfolk, improved policy compliance, and the full implementation of the harvest strategy on eliminating fine-meshed nets and gears that catches juvenile sardines, herrings, and mackerels. As a next step, the SAG will provide FAO 167-3 recommendations and present a policy brief.
A key issue raised during the meeting was the decline in fisheries production. Mr. Joseph Ladrido, ICE Executive Director, highlighted that agriculture and fisheries contribute up to 25% of Iloilo Province’s economy. His presentation revealed an 81.2% decrease in Bangus production from 2020 to 2023, equating to a P2 billion loss. Factors such as high production costs, environmental degradation, and overfishing were discussed as contributors to the decline.
The FMA 11 MB continues to work diligently towards achieving sustainable fisheries management and addressing the challenges faced by the fisheries sector in FMA 11. ###/RJS
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