Media identify fishery concerns

CEBU, Philippines - Media practitioners in the Visayas have identified various environmental problems in relation to fisheries and aquatic resources enhancement and protection.

Selected mediamen in regions VI, VII and VIII participated the last of the three series of environmental conference for media nationwide held in Iloilo City yesterday sponsored by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) .

“The fishery sector itself, not so much on BFAR is asking your support. The fishery sector has been so left out in the past,” said BFAR Director Asis Perez.

The Visayas-wide Environmental Media Conference was held on board the 1,156 gross tons multi-purpose vessel, MV DA-BFAR, docked at Iloilo City Port.

The conference aimed to generate support among media practitioners for future environmental endeavors and to discuss media’s role on environmental policies, rules, advocacies, enforcement, public compliance, etc.

Among the environmental concerns raised during the conference from the three regions were over fishing, oil spill, pollution, fish kill, wildlife trading, unregulated used of wildlife for tourism purposes, among others.

“Mahalaga talaga ang media para mapalaganap natin ang advocacy on environmental protection. Through media mas maraming Pilipino ang ma reach out,” said Perez.

Media practitioners who attended the conference during the workshops stated that in order to help the bureau in its environmental protection advocacies, they will continue to report environmental issues, commentaries and news features.

In order to provide more information on the bureau advocacies, media practitioners also asked BFAR officials to be accessible, provide them with data and documents as well as press releases and enhance the bureau’s presence in social media by providing updates on their programs.  (FREEMAN)