SAN JUAN, Siquijor (PIA) -- Some 76 fisherfolk from various associations and barangays in San Juan town participated in the Sea Warden Deputation Training for them to serve as the set of Bantay Dagat officers in the municipality.

The identified fisherfolk and participants are members of the Maite Resource Development Association, IHALASON Fisherfolk Association, barangay officials and representatives of 11 coastal barangays and Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).

The training, held in two batches, was organized by the San Juan local government unit in collaboration with AFOS Foundation for Entrepreneurial Development Cooperation under the Fostering Inclusive and Sustainable Habitats in the Fisheries Value Chains  in Central Visayas (FISH-Visayas) project. 

AFOS project manager and Philippine resident representative, Yvette Hope Labus, said the training is one of the strategies to build cooperation with the community on sustainable fishing practices.

“In making sure that the project is properly communicated and that we have close coordination with our partners we make sure that we have proper meetings, and then we have plans and activities that we need to implement for the project to be more sustainable,” Labus said.

She hopes that the collaborative effort will help sustain and protect the marine resources in the province.

FISH-Visayas

The FISH-Visayas project aims to strengthen the powers of the local government unit in the implementation and enforcement  of their approved ordinances for marine resource protection.

The project costs around P1 million in training and equipment, with P431,220 coming  from the AFOS fund and P428,260 from the San Juan municipal government. 

The project is implemented in partnership with the Siquijor Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (SCCI), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) Provincial Fishery Office and the communities.

Newly-trained fish wardens

Tubod barangay councilor Rowel Salibay, 28, said he is grateful to be chosen as one of the sea wardens as he sees the benefits it will bring to his community. 

“Dako kaayo ni’g kahimuan sa amoang municipality aron mas mudaghan pa ang mga isda ug mas ma-proteksyunan pa ang mga yamang dagat nato diri sa sulod sa municipal waters,” said Salibay. 

(This is a great achievement for our municipality to increase the volume of fish and protect our marine resources within the municipal waters.)

Salibay said he gained knowledge and new skills during the training that will help him in his duties as a Bantay Dagat member. 

“Nindot kaayo and pagtambong namo, pag-apil namo isip fish wardens tungod kay naghatag kini ug higayon nga makatabang kami sa gagmatoyng nga mananagat , ilabi na sa pagpatuman sa mga pamalaudnon sa insaktong pagpanagat,” he said. 

(It is very good that we attended the training as fish wardens because it gave us an opportunity to help the small fishermen, especially in the implementation of laws on proper fishing.)

Salibay said he hopes to replicate the training in his barangay so can help educate the community. 

"Isip usa ka myembro sa Bantay Dagat, usa sad na akoang gipangandoy na maga-conduct ug mga trainings by barangay kabahin sa unsa uy maayo pagpanguha sa mga isda na wala’y laing ma-apektuhan, labi na aning mga pang-chlorine diba kay kuan kaayo ning chlorine diri. So, dapat naa ta’y mga seminars sa atong mga mananagat aron lang sa pagpatuman ug unsay sakto na pagkuha sa usa ka isda," he explained.

(As a member of Bantay Dagat, one of my dreams is to conduct trainings by barangays about how to catch fish that will not affect others. Fishing through chlorination is rampant here. So, we should have seminars for our fishermen to implement what is the right way to catch fish.)

Another newly-trained fish warden is Leo Siong, 48, vice-president of Tubod Marine Sanctuary, who hopes that his participation in the training will allow him to help the future generation.

"Niapil ko aning training aron makatabang ko nga mudaghan ang mga isda, dayon makatabang pud ko sa atoang lungsod ug sa umalabot pa nga  mga kabatan-inan nga padaghanon ang mga isda para pud sa ilang umalabot nga panahon," he said.

(I joined this training so I can help in increasing the fish population, and also help secure the marine resources for the future generation.)

Three-day fishing ban ordinance 

San Juan is one of the six municipalities in the island province of Siquijor comprising of 15 barangays, 11 of which are coastal areas. 

Its municipal water has a total coastline stretching to 18.63 kilometers which comprises its municipal water jurisdiction to 31,623 hectares.

The town is known for its abundant fisheries resources and for being a migration pathway of commercially viable, high valued pelagic migratory species of fish, which is prone to illegal fishing activities, encroachment of commercial fishing vessels, thus facing significant threat and challenges to fully sustain its resources.

The San Juan local government unit conducted the training following the approval of a municipal ordinance establishing  a three-day fishing ban period during the second, third and fourth days  of the month.

The ban was already implemented on January 12-14, February 10-12, and March 11-13.

The ordinance aims to sustainably protect its fisheries and coastal resources with the support of the communities and stakeholders, taking into account the current state of the fishery and the challenges it faces.  

It also called for a set of well-trained personnel to assist in implementation and of fishery laws, rules and regulations in the municipal sea waters, particularly in the conduct of seaborne operations. 

SCCI Chair Arthur Chan said they recognize the value and importance of the implementation of local ordinance to the marine resources and the protection of maritime boundaries.

“We embark on this activity in order to enhance our capability to implement related maritime laws. We commend our partners, the BFAR, DOST, LGUs, and other government agencies and stakeholders for their untiring support to the activity,” he said. (RAC/MFH/PIA7-Siquijor with reports from Jurist Jaictin/SPSHS)