MONTH OF THE OCEAN 2023: FISHERS’ TALK

MONTH OF THE OCEAN 2023: FISHERS’ TALK

By virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 57, issued in 1999, we celebrate the month of May as the Month of the Ocean.

The Philippines contains the highest number of marine species per unit area relative to the countries within the Indo-Malay-Philippines Archipelago, and has been identified as the epicenter of marine biodiversity.

The Philippine marine territory has become a breeding and feeding ground for endangered marine species like the dugong and home of sea turtles (pawikan) and different types of fish. The sea also provides or supports the livelihood and source of food for the coastal communities and for us, filipinos.

Fishers’Talk held in Asturias, Cebu is one of the highlights in the information, education and communication (IEC) advocacy campaign in celebration for the month of the ocean in DENR Central Visayas. Representatives from partner national government agencies (NGAs), officials from the barangay/municiapal of the local government units (LGUs), multi-stakeholders and fisherfolks/peoples’organization attended the said forum.

PENRO Cebu Jose Cleo Cary F. Colis also the Tanon Strait Protected Seascape (TSPS) Head/Protected Area Superintendent (PASu) encourages all to participate actively in our efforts to protect and conserve our ocean and its resources. The importance of the ocean for a sustainable marine ecosystem, as the ocean is the lungs of the earth and the vital role of the coastal communities, the stakeholders and the local government unit in the preservation and conservation of our marine resources specially keeping plastic pollution out of the sea relies on us.

University of the Philippines Associate Professor Dr. Hazel O. Arceo discussed the Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the Philippine Setting, BFAR OIC, Fisheries Resource Management Section Jeselita G. Ruinata and Microplastics: the Not So Micro Problem was presented by Senior Science Research Specialist Jon Alfonso Horvidalla of Coastal Resources and Ecotourish Research, Development and Extension Center (CRERDEC). Other topics were also presented on the Salient Features of the Clean Water Act by EMB-7 and from Tanon Strait Protected Seascape (TSPS) on coastal enforcement in midwest Cebu. Participants shared observations and suggestions during the open forum session.

Other activities were also conducted regionwide spearheaded by the PENROs and CENROs posted in the official social media page: DENR Central Visayas. #MOO2023#TayoangKalikasan#ikawakokitaangkalikupan

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