BFAR teams up with US advocacy group to craft fishing industry reforms

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) recently teamed up with United States-based advocacy group Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) to develop science-based reforms in commercial fishing by 2022 as part of the former’s new fisheries law.

“We view EDF as a critical partner to making fishing sustainable in the Philippines,” said BFAR Director Eduardo Gongona. “By building our policy reforms on science and investing in reliable enforcement, we can ensure healthy fisheries for the future.”

Through the partnership, EDF would be providing science support sharing tools in the Philippines to assess the health of fish populations with the goal of managing fishing effort and catch to allow stocks to rebuild.

It would also develop new scientific processes, provide training, and test new technologies in the country.

“We have an opportunity to build a roadmap together for other nations to emulate on how to implement sustainable, science-based, and inclusive policy reforms for their fisheries,” said Jose Ingles, an adviser to EDF in the Philippines.

“Data, science, participation, and transparency are the foundation for good policy,” he added.

According to BFAR, over fishing is pervasive in the Philippines, where 70 percent of fish stocks are considered over-fished.

The Philippines is a top fishing nation in the Asia-Pacific region and boasts of having the highest marine diversity in the world, said BFAR.