Event highlights role of fish farming in food sufficiency

The celebration of Fish Conservation Week from Sept. 14 to 18 highlighted the role of fish farming in increasing the availability and sufficiency of food supply, especially during a pandemic.
The 57th annual celebration of FishCon Week carried the theme, “Karagatan ay pangalagaan upang ani at kita ay makamtan maging sa gitna ng pandemyang hamon sa bayan.”
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-Cordillera Director Lilibeth Signey said the theme conveys that despite the challenges brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, the public should remain steadfast in protecting fisheries and aquatic resources as a source of food and income for fisherfolk.
For the Cordillera which is a landlocked region, emphasis is given on the development of inland fishery resources which face threats from illegal fishing, overfishing, pollution, siltation and overusage of water system, Signey said.
BFAR led the conduct of lectures on the minimum requirement of food aquaponics practices and distribution of solar-powered urban aquaponics system to several beneficiaries in different provinces in the region.
Through the school-on-air program, BFAR personnel discussed tilapia culture in earthen ponds and rice fish culture.
Also tackled in the school-on-air program is the Fishery Code of the Philippines.
Various fish and agricultural products were also showcased and sold through the Kadiwa sa BFAR-Cordillera agri-trade fair last Sept. 15.
Clean-up drives were also conducted at the Marag River in Apayao, Ambalanga River in Benguet, Lake Tufob in Mountain Province, Magat Dam in Ifugao and in the Andarayan-Santor and San Francisco small water impounding projects in Kalinga.
 Miss Earth Philippines 2020 Roxanne Allison Baeyens, a Baguio girl, also joined BFAR-Cordillera personnel in the closing program last Sept. 18 to talk about her advocacy on urban agriculture.
BFAR also gave recognition to the National Bureau of Investigation, Police Regional Office-Cordillera and Benguet Provincial Office for their assistance in enforcing fishery laws in the region. – Carlito C. Dar