A P1.3-billion sustainable fisheries project has been launched by the US government in partnership with the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR). Dubbed Fish Right, the five-year program under the US Agency for International Development (USAID) will focus on addressing biodiversity threats, improving marine ecosystem governance, and increasing number and weight of fish in the Calamianes Islands in Palawan, Visayan Seas, and south Negros. “We will continue to work together to advance human and ecological well-being in the Philippines and to support initiatives that enhance sustainable resource use and conserve biodiversity,” US Embassy in the Philippines Deputy Chief of Mission John C. Law said during the launch ceremony held in Iloilo City. BFAR Director Eduardo B. Gongona, for his part, said, “BFAR is pleased to continue its partnership with USAID through the Fish Right Program. We are at the forefront of the country’s fight against illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, which to this day continues to imperil marine and aquatic resources and the livelihood of hundreds of thousands of fisherfolk.” — CAAGUINALDO

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