U.S., Philippines Launch Php1.3 Billion Sustainable Fisheries Project

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U.S., Philippines Launch Php1.3 Billion Sustainable Fisheries Project
U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission John Law (3rd from left) and Bureau of Fisheries Dir. Eduardo Gongona (2nd from left) unveil the Fish Right program billboard to mark the new partnership between the U.S. and Philippine governments to promote sustainable fisheries. Also in the photo are (L-R) Helen Balajadia, representative from the Iloilo fishing community, Iloilo Prov'l Administrator Dr. Raul Banias, USAID Acting Mission Dir. Patrick Wesner, and Univ. of Rhode Island Pres. David Dooley.

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, November 20, 2018

The U.S. government, in partnership with the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, launched Fish Right, a Php1.3 billion sustainable fisheries project.

The five-year U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) project will focus on addressing biodiversity threats, improving marine ecosystem governance, and increasing number and weight of fish in the Calamianes Island Group, Visayan Seas, and South Negros. The partnership is expected to benefit 2 million people who depend on these resources for food and income.

At the launch ceremony, U.S. Embassy in the Philippines Deputy Chief of Mission John C. Law said, “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. The U.S. government is committed to work alongside you in this crucial endeavor.”

Department of Agriculture Undersecretary and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Director Eduardo B. Gongona reiterated the Philippine government’s commitment to marine protection and sustainable fisheries.

“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,” BFAR Director Gongona said.

Approximately 60 percent of the Filipino population lives in coastal zones and depends on coastal resources for their livelihoods. These resources are threatened by illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources estimates that the Philippines loses nearly 68.5 billion pesos a year to these harmful fishing practices.

Since the 1990s, USAID has supported the Philippine government’s marine and biodiversity conservation efforts. This partnership has resulted in a 24 percent increase in fish biomass – or the number and size of fish – in target regions. To build on this success and face the continued challenges of overfishing, the USAID Fish Right project aims to increase fish biomass and strengthen management of more than 2.5 million hectares of marine area.