BFAR taps youth, regions for national fish conservation

Determined to arrest the depletion of the country’s marine resources due to over-fishing, water pollution and use of destructive fishing methods, the Bureau to Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) is tapping the youth and preparing the regions in a vigorous national fish conservation campaign.

BFAR Director Malcolm Sarmiento said there are ongoing arrangements with the Department of Education for the integration of fish conservation in the basic curriculum as mandated by Republic Act 8550.

"It is very important to involve the youth in our campaign to protect and conserve our aquatic resources. In the US, for instance, the anti-smoking campaign became very effective because of the youth’s involvement," Sarmiento said.

He also cited fish conservation activities being undertaken by BFAR’s 16 regional offices nationwide.

Sarmiento said such activities would get a big boost from the country’s observance of the National Fish Conservation Week (NFCW) from Oct. 17 to 23 as proclaimed in 1963 by then President Diosdado Macapagal.

This year’s NFCW will carry the theme "The stake of the youth in the protection of our oceans and other aquatic resources," and will kick off with BFAR’s nationwide fish dispersal activities on Oct. 17.

Tilapia fingerlings will be dispersed at the La Mesa Dam Eco Park by Agriculture Secretary Domingo Panganiban, Undersecretary Salvador Salacup, Sarmiento and other government officials.

The La Mesa Dam ceremonies will signal the nationwide fish dispersal activities led by BFAR’s regional offices.

At the same time, the six-day French exhibit on biodiversity and Philippine fisheries will kick off at the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) in Quezon City.

Sponsored by the French embassy, the exhibit is open to students, teachers, researchers, non-government organizations and other interested parties. The exhibit includes a film showing featuring acclaimed Filipino and French documentaries on the environment. There will be four screenings on Oct. 17 and eight on Oct. 19.

At the BFAR office in Quezon City, a fish industry exhibit opens showcasing various fisheries and other aquatic products for food and other uses. These will be sold at low prices by fish cooperatives, NGOs and other industry players up to Oct. 22.

On Oct. 19, Fish Show 2005 opens at the Glorietta Mall and will run up to Oct. 23. The show is open to the public and will feature such popular ornamental fishes as arowana, gold fish, guppies, kois and other collectors’ items. There will be games, children’s contests and fora for hobbyists and would-be growers on how to raise these non-food but high-value fishes, especially for export.

And on Oct. 20, an aquaculture congress will be held at the BSWM Convention Hall. The congress is organized by BFAR and sponsored by the agriculture and fisheries committee of the House of Representatives.

BFAR is the government agency that provides the country’s fisher folk with research and development, extension support and training, and regulatory services, while conducting information campaigns and policy formulation and planning for their utmost benefit.