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FMA 7 SAG, Nagpulong para sa Siyentipikong Pamamahala ng Sardinas

Isinagawa ang 3rd Quarter Meeting ng Fisheries Management Area 7 Scientific Advisory Group (FMA 7 SAG) noong Agosto 27–28, 2025 sa Tabaco City. Dinaluhan ito ng mga kinatawan mula sa munisipal at komersyal na sektor, academe, NGOs, NGAs, LGUs, at mga eksperto sa pangisdaan (hybrid setup) upang talakayin ang pangangalaga sa sardinas sa Ragay Gulf, Ticao Pass, Burias Pass, at Northern Samar Sea.

Ibinahagi ni Dr. Wilfredo L. Campos, Scientist, ang biyolohikal na pag-aaral hinggil sa buhay ng sardinas sa FMA 7, kung saan binigyang-diin niya ang tamang sukat ng lawlaw/tamban bago ito mangitlog, gayundin ang kanilang migrasyon sa kabuuan ng FMA 7. Ang mga datos na ito ay magsisilbing gabay sa pamamahala at sa pagtatatag ng pansamantalang pagpapatigil ng panghuhuli sa mga piling pangisdaan na saklaw ng FMA 7.

Tinalakay rin ang resulta ng konsultasyon sa mga stakeholder kaugnay ng mga iminumungkahing Harvest Control Rules at Measures para sa sardinas, kabilang ang mga posibleng lugar na isasailalim sa seasonal fishing closure upang mapanatili ang masaganang huli at kabuhayan ng mga mangingisda.

Kasabay nito, nanumpa ang mga bagong kinatawan mula sa LGU at aquaculture sector bilang opisyal na kasapi ng FMA 7 SAG.

Binibigyang-diin ng BFAR ang mahalagang papel ng SAG sa pagbabalangkas ng mga polisiya na nakabatay sa agham at isinasaalang-alang ang kapakanan ng mga stakeholder. Sa pamamagitan ng matibay na balikatan at pakikipagtulungan, layunin ng BFAR na mapangalagaan ang sardinas, maprotektahan ang kabuhayan ng mga mangingisda, at patatagin ang seguridad sa pagkain ng bansa.

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𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄 | 𝐃𝐀-𝐁𝐅𝐀𝐑 𝐋𝐀𝐔𝐍𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐒 𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐆𝐔𝐈𝐃𝐄 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐊𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐑𝐀𝐘𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍

Amid growing concern over the future of shark populations in the Philippine waters, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has officially launched a new national plan that serves as a guide for conservation efforts and sustainable management of sharks, rays, and chimaeras.

Signed in May this year, the Order enables BFAR’s central and regional offices to implement coordinated actions under the newly finalized Shark, Ray, and Chimaera Conservation and Fisheries Management Framework. Developed through nationwide consultations with the scientific community, policy experts, and other stakeholders, the framework sets out practical, science-based strategies to address species decline, enhance enforcement, and support sustainable fisheries, ensuring that conservation efforts are aligned with the communities’ needs.

A megadiverse country, the Philippines is home to approximately 200 species of sharks, rays, and chimaeras – among them the iconic whale shark, the endangered pelagic thresher, and the devil ray. These species have vital roles not only in the Philippine marine ecosystem but also in the global marine biodiversity.

However, out of these 200 species, 30 are considered vulnerable, 20 are endangered, and two are classified as critically endangered under the IUCN Red List. Their slow growth and low reproductive rates make them especially vulnerable to overfishing, bycatch, habitat degradation, climate change, and unregulated trade. While 58 species of sharks, rays, and chimaeras are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), most remain without legal safeguards.

Rather than introducing new restrictions, the framework strengthens the implementation of existing relevant laws through a unified national approach. It focuses on five key pillars: research and development, conservation and adaptive management, monitoring and enforcement, capacity-building, and socio-economic safeguards. The framework aims to produce tangible outcomes, including improved catch data, protection of key habitats, recovery plans for threatened species, and livelihood support for affected fishers.

BFAR will conduct targeted studies, establish a national knowledge platform, and train personnel in species identification and trade monitoring. Toolkits and support will be provided to LGUs and to the 12 Fisheries Management Areas to ensure consistent application on the ground.

BFAR, in partnership with groups such as the Marine Wildlife Watch of the Philippines (MWWP), will roll out a nationwide education campaign this year, featuring school-based activities, IEC materials in local languages, and integration into major events like Fish Conservation Week and Maritime and Archipelagic Nation Awareness Month. MWWP, which contributed to the development of the framework in its earlier form, continues to support public engagement and knowledge-sharing efforts.

A National Technical Working Group will coordinate implementation and guide interagency efforts to ensure that management remains evidence-based and community-informed. BFAR expects the framework to shape policy directions, support biodiversity-friendly enterprises, promote responsible shark tourism, and assist local monitoring and enforcement.

BFAR calls on local government units, fisherfolk organizations, and the civil society to take part in the framework’s implementation through data sharing, local enforcement, and capacity-building.