SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union, March 18 (PIA) -- In a move designed to preserve La Union’s rich marine resources, the Provincial Government of La Union launched its “Project Fisheries Refugia” at the La Union Convention Center here on March 18.

The project aims to enjoin communities’ participation in promoting marine and coastal areas management in order to conserve La Union’s marine resources.

Moreover, it is inspired by the province's cooperation with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), specifically the agency's Sustainability and Partnerships for Inclusive Growth and Regenerative Ecosystem (INSPIRE) project.

La Union Governor Raphaelle Veronica ‘Rafy’ Ortega-David said the launching underscores the importance of environmental conservation and as a response to the province’s calls to prioritize the environment. 

“The launching of the Project Fisheries Refugia today is a perfect time to acknowledge the importance of environmental conservation. Through projects such as this, we can safeguard and allow fish population to replenish,” Ortega-David said.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Jaime V. Ongpin Foundation, and the Gerry Roxas Foundation provided support for the conduct of the said activity.

The project shall be primarily established in the towns of Balaoan and Aringay, areas situated in the northern and southern parts of the province with known fisherfolk communities.

The said towns and the province as a whole, are a known nesting site for turtles and other marine animals, necessitating the need to come up with strategies to sustainably manage coastal habitats.

Problems and issues on coastal and fisheries management shall be addressed through the project’s implementation, doing so through governance, human, and ecological aspects of management.

The governance aspect shall include the proper enactment and implementation of relevant regulations, rules, and policies while the human aspect shall seek to improve the towns’ fisherfolks and the community in general’s quality of life.

Meanwhile, the ecological aspect of the project shall endeavor to sustain and protect the health of the towns’ ecosystem while also increasing the resilience of fish stocks to fishing effects.

Noel Barut, Deputy Chief of Party of the USAID’s Inspire Project, said the primary problem being addressed by the project is the open access of fisheries which thereafter leads to overfishing, resulting in a decline in fish stocks.

“To prevent overexploitation and depletion of fish stocks, there is a need to ensure resource sustainability for future generations and the livelihood of communities dependent on the resource,” Barut said.

In a statement of support, Mayor Benjamin Sibuma of Aringay town said the establishment of the project in the town helps not only marine resources but also the fishing communities relying on fishing as a livelihood.

“This project supports the livelihood of our local fisherman. By allowing fish populations to recover and replenish, we ensure the long-term sustainability of our fishing industry,” Sibuma said. (JCR/MJTAB/CCMT, PIA La Union)