The Institute of Fisheries Policy and Development Studies, College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences (CFOS-IFPDS) conducted a seminar-workshop on national fishery laws and policies to the local government unit of Guimbal, a fourth class coastal town in the Province of Iloilo, on June 19, 2024.
Titled “Seminar-Workshop on National Fisheries Laws and Policies: Highlighting the Role of Fisherfolk as Local Resource Managers,” the activity was aimed to increase awareness and understanding of the fisheries stakeholders on the different fishery laws and policies.
It highlighted the active role of the fisherfolk in the enforcement and compliance of these laws as well as in the implementation of fisheries management initiatives.
The seminar-workshop was attended by fisherfolk leaders, Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Management Council (FARMC) chairs, and staff from the Guimbal Municipal Agriculture Office.
The participants were provided lectures and hands-on activities on salient provisions of RA 8550 otherwise known as The Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998.The law aims to prevent, deter, and eliminate illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing in the country.
Ms. Ruby Napata gave the overview of coastal/marine ecosystem fisheries management areas (FMAs). Asst. Prof. Dr. Liberty N. Espectato discussed the significance of “Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (FARMC).”
Ms. Anne Brigette Ledesma talked about Marine Protected Area (MPA) while Mr. Ariel Sefil presented the marine endangered, threatened, protected, and vulnerable species.
Asst. Prof. Joshua Regalado discussed the effects of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, which is one of the biggest problems to marine ecosystem that threatens fisheries sustainability.
The participants expressed their gratitude and appreciation of the activity.
"We're happy with the seminar, which broadened our knowledge about fishery laws and policies," one attendee said in local dialect.
“Good job. We learned a lot,” added another participant who wished for more related training.
The activity was conducted in response to the study conducted by Napata, et al 2023 on the lack of awareness and understanding on various fishery regulations and policies of the fishing community as well as the local officials in the coastal municipalities in Southern Iloilo, namely Oton, Tigbauan, Guimbal, Miagao, and San Joaquin.
Similar activities will be carried out in the other aforementioned coastal towns in Iloilo province. (With sources from Ms. Genna Serofia of IFPDS)
