The Philippine government hopes to replenish fish populations in key marine areas around the country through a program called “Ecofish,” a joint project with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Short for Ecosystems Improved for Sustainable Fisheries, the Ecofish project was launched on Wednesday by the Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and USAID to improve the management of Philippine coastal and marine resources.
The objective is to make the fisheries sector sustainable through the effective management of eight important biodiversity areas. These areas are the Calamianes Group of Islands in Palawan, Lingayen Gulf in Pangasinan, Ticao Pass-Lagonoy Gulf-San Bernardino Strait in Bicol and Samar, Danajon Double Barrier Reef in Bohol and Leyte, southern Negros Occidental, Surigao, Sulu archipelago, and the Verde Island Passage between Batangas and Mindoro.
Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said Ecofish was designed to contribute to priority goals laid out in the Philippine Development Plan, particularly the conservation and rehabilitation of natural resources.
Click here to read the full story from the Philippine Daily Inquirer >
