The project gives face to the thousands of fishermen who collectively provide almost 60 per cent of the fish consumption of Metro Manila.
FishR aims to provide a national database that is vital in designing programs to aid the local municipalities in managing, regulating, conserving and protecting fishery resources.
Present in the event are all the Municipal Agricultural Officers, the agriculture technicians, the chairmen of the different Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Councils (FARMC) and municipal mayors.
“We want to know who and where are these fishermen so we can create appropriate programs to assist them enhance livelihood opportunities and protect the source of this livelihood,” said Inday Basaya, PIO of BFAR-Palawan.
The nationwide FishR is jointly being undertaken by the National Statistical Coordination Board, Department of Interior and Local Government, and the BFAR.
The project will also complete the much delayed formulation of the Comprehensive Fishery Information System which is required in the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998.
“Through this project, we will be able to help our fishermen who remain to be poor despite providing and contributing to about 60 per cent of the fish consumption in Manila,” Basaya said.
The inauguration is a part of the Mimaropa regional launching and led by BFAR Director Atty. Asis Perez to be joined by the other regional directors and officials.
Palawan, the largest island province in the country has an estimated 2,000 kilometers irregular coastline. It is number one in volume of production taken from its municipal fishing grounds.
