TACLOBAN CITY (PIA) — In its effort to intensify students’ awareness on fish conservation and marine life, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Eastern Visayas on Monday, September 18, has partnered with Leyte Normal University, one of the universities in Region 8, through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA).
The MOA, signed between LNU President Evelyn B. Aguirre and BFAR-8 Assistant Regional Director Cylet Salvacion C. Luz held at the LNU gym, Tacloban City, formally opened this year’s week-long celebration of the 60th Fish Conservation Week with the theme “Masaganang Pangisdaan, Maunlad na Ekonomiya.”
In her message, Aguirre underscored the significance of the undertaking as it is geared towards development.
As she expressed commitment to the partnership, Aguirre enjoined A.B. Communication students to become the forefront in disseminating information on how to conserve the fishes and other marine resources to ensure a sustainable future.
“We should have our own way of disseminating information, conduct research about it, how the IEC materials of BFAR be acceptable to the fisherfolks and translate in something that can be understood by our fisherfolks. That is IEC DevCom, IEC AB Communication Program,” Aguirre said.
Aguirre also assured that LNU, as partner of BFAR-8, can focus on the production of publication materials or IEC materials that can significantly help in the information dissemination and raise awareness by educating students, fisherfolks, the community and fellow citizens on the importance of fish conservation.
While the Philippines is known for being rich in marine biodiversity with countless fishes and other marine resources, it has recently faced some significant challenges in fish conservation like overfishing, habitat destruction, an illegal dynamite fishing practices which threaten the aquatic ecosystem.
She also cited the data of BFAR that nearly 10% of the country’s coral reefs have been destroyed and many fishes are at risk. This alarming trend, according to her, not only jeopardizes our environment but also the livelihood of millions of Filipinos who depend on fishing for their income and sustenance.
“The decline in fish population disrupts the marine ecosystem and if the current trend continues, time will come that we could no longer see fishes in the oceans,” Aguirre said.
However, Aguirre believes that by working together, the alarming trend on fish depletion and other challenges on marine environment can be reversed in order that future generations can continue to enjoy the bounties of our oceans.
Meanwhile, Cylet Salvacion C. Luz, assistant regional director of BFAR-8, called on everyone to help bring down, if not eliminate, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
To date, BFAR-8 has recorded a total of 210,500 registered fishers in Eastern Visayas. (MMP/CBA/PIA-8)
