DA-USAID project to impose fish ban in 8 major biodiversity areas

LUCENA CITY, Philippines – A joint undertaking of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) dubbed the “Ecofish project” will soon impose a total fish ban in key marine biodiversity areas across the country to help fish populations to replenish themselves.

These places are the Calamian group of islands in Palawan, Lingayen Gulf in Pangasinan, the Ticao Pass-Lagonoy Gulf-San Bernardino Strait in Bicol and Samar regions, Danajon Double Barrier Reef in Bohol and Leyte, southern Negros Occidental, Surigao, the Sulu archipelago, and the Verde Island Passage between Batangas and Mindoro. 

Launched last week, the Ecosystems Improved for Sustainable Fisheries or Ecofish is meant to improve the capability and capacity of the DA and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources to manage the country’s coastal and marine resources.  

The project also aims to make the fisheries sector sustainable through effective management of the eight key biodiversity areas to replenish the fish populations and ensure good catch for fishermen.  

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said the Ecofish project was designed to contribute to the priority goals laid out in the Philippine Development Plan, particularly in the areas of sustainable agriculture and fisheries and the conservation and rehabilitation of natural resources. 

He said the closed season for sardines, herrings and mackerels in the Visayan Sea, which will take effect on Nov. 15 to Feb. 15 next year, is part of the country’s efforts to replenish fish populations.  

The Ecofish project is an offshoot of the current World Bank (WB) campaign to save oceans and seas.

The WB-initiated Global Partnership Oceans composed of governments, non-government organizations, scientists and businesses would prevent the transnational plunder and corporate raid of the oceans and seas across the Asia-Pacific. 

Last February, outgoing WB president Robert Zoellick announced that a global alliance had pledged as much as $1.5 billion to the initiative over five years. 

Pamalakaya national chairman and Anakpawis party-list leading nominee Fernando Hicap, however, said in a statement that the Ecofish project would carry out something “sinister to the detriment of local fisheries.”