Sustainable fisheries management is needed to protect the sardine population in the inner waters of Bicol Region, which provides the second-highest production of this much-favored fish, next only to Zamboanga Peninsula, according to a nongovernment organization.
During the recent orientation and workshop for the National Sardines Management Plan (Plan) for Fisheries Management Area (FMA) 7, stakeholders agree that the fishing grounds of Ticao-Burias Pass, San Bernardino Strait, and Ragay Gulf have an enormous potential in sardine production, but there is compelling urgency for stakeholders to work together to address the challenges in managing the sardine stocks.
Based on the 2019 Philippine Statistics Authority Report on the annual production of sardines, the Bicol Region, next to the Zamboanga Peninsula, recorded the highest production of tamban and tunsoy. There are 20 sardines species that were found in FMA 7, including Sardinella lemuru (lawlaw) and Sardinella gibbosa (alubaybay/tamban/tunsoy).
Oceana Vice President Gloria Estenzo Ramos emphasized the importance of the plan, particularly in the restoration and recovery of sardine stocks, as well as other fisheries and marine habitats.
“It is heart-breaking to see the sardines catch of fishers in Bulan, Sorsogon being wasted because there are no buyers, or the price is too low. These could have been avoided and the fisherfolk are able to earn more if the hurdles in the supply chain are addressed,” Ramos said in a statement.
“Thus, we urge the Management Body of the sardine-rich FMAs to prioritize the conduct of a participatory process to adopt and incorporate the Plan in the respective Management Plan of the FMA. The plan is a comprehensive roadmap to ensure that we are able to sustainably manage our sardines resources in the ocean while our fisherfolk are in a better position to earn money to sustain their daily needs.”
Ramos said it is the role of the FMA Management body to achieve the goals of the plan, adopt it in the concrete condition and problems, in this case, in FMA 7 where Bulan, Sorsogon is covered, and take action on the areas needing policies and intervention support.
Dr. Juan D. Albaladejo, assistant director for operations of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), said while the area covered by FMA 7 has the capacity to become a sardine powerhouse, a lot is needed to be done to protect it.
“The area is rich but lacking in science. Thus, we should put science at the center of the development, protection, and management of the locality,” said Albaladejo.
Fisheries expert from University of the Philippines Visayas, Dr. Willie Campos, who is conducting a reproductive biology study in the area, said sardine “stock in FMA 7 appears to be in better condition than Zamboanga, but measures have to be taken to maintain and improve the stocks.”
During the workshop, lawyer Roger Joseph Guzman discussed the legal and policy framework for the sardine management in the Philippines. He emphasized the significant role of the local government units (LGU) to exercise primary jurisdiction over municipal waters, as well as in advancing the general welfare, livelihood, and protection of fisheries and the fishermen.
It was observed that small-scale fishers in the area have no access to ice that often results in spoilage of their catch. One effective solution for this is setting up a cold storage facility that will cater for sardine fishers in FMA 7 to help maintain the freshness of the catch.
At present, Oceana said there is only one cannery in Bicol, which is in Bulan, Sorsogon. Some LGUs, it was learned, do not allow sardine fishers to trade with larger canneries. As part of management action for FMA 7, the workshop participants proposed that areas with surplus should be linked to large-scale canneries to further reduce wastage.
The plan—which was approved on May 15, 2020, by Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar—aims to improve science-based indicators for the sustainability of fish stocks and distribution of benefits among sardine fisherfolk communities and strengthen science-based management for sustainable sardine fisheries by the end of 2025.
Image credits: Gregg Yan