DAGUPAN CITY (PIA) — The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources- Regional Fisheries Office I (BFAR-RFO1) has trained and deputized at least 32 members of the Marine Protected Area (MPA) Network in Pangasinan on June 18-20 at the BFAR Regional Mariculture Technology Demonstration Center (RMaTDeC) in Lucap, Alaminos City, Pangasinan.
Mary Ann Salomon, provincial fishery officer of BFAR Pangasinan, said the training is a three-day program catered to participants from the towns of Bani, Bolinao, and Burgos, which are members of the Bani-Bolinao-Burgos-Infanta-Dasol-Agno (BBBIDA) MPA Network.
The MPA network or Bantay Dagat is a group of individuals that preserve, protect, and conserve the coastal and fishery resources of the local government units in their area concerned and ensure their sustainable use for the benefit of the Pangasinan residents.
“The activity is the Deputy Fish Warden (DFW) training aimed to provide participants with essential knowledge, technical skills, and updates on fishery laws, thereby enhancing efforts in marine conservation,” Salomon told the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) – Pangasinan.
She said the training was requested by the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (DENR-CENRO) in Alaminos City.
During the training, topics discussed included values enhancement, Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Management Councils (FARMC), Republic Act No. 8550 as amended by R.A. 10654 or the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998, classification of fishing boats and gears, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), fisheries resource management, marine mammal stranding response, practical navigation, roles and grounds for revocation of DFW, detection of illegally caught fish, and market or fish landing denial.
Mark Jhon Loui Rivera, a participant from Burgos, expressed gratitude for the training and urged his fellow Bantay Dagat members to apply and disseminate the knowledge they acquired within their communities, especially among the youth, for the benefit of future generations.
“Unang-una, salamat sa ating Panginoon dahil sa tagumpay ng aktibidad na ito. Madami po kaming natutunan at hinihikayat ko ang bawat-isa na ipasabuhay ang kanilang natutunan. Ibahagi natin ito sa ating kababayan, maging ang mga kabataan nang sa ganon ay mamulat sila sa kung anong tama na siyang mapapakinabangan pa ng mga susunod na henerasyon,” he said.
“First and foremost, I thank the Lord for the success of this activity. We have learned a lot, and I encourage everyone to put into practice what we have learned. Let’s share this with our fellow countrymen, especially the youth, so they may be enlightened about what is right and beneficial for future generations,” he said. (MJTAB/EMSA/PIA-1, Pangasinan)
