What Is the Bureau of Fisheries & Aquatic Resources?
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) is the Philippine government agency within the Department of Agriculture responsible for the developing, managing and conserving the country's aquatic resources including fisheries and aquatic plant life. BFAR has expansive goals that include "conserve, protect and sustain the management of the country's fishery and aquatic resources, alleviate poverty and provide supplementary livelihood among municipal fisherfolk and improve aquaculture productivity within the ecological limit."
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Organization
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Since the Philippine Civil Government was established on July 4, 1901, the conservation, promotion and development of the country's fishery resources have been a priority. Throughout the years the agency bestowed with this responsibility has undergone a number of reorganizations.
Today, The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources has nine functional divisions: the Fisheries Policy Research and Economics Division; Fishery Resources Administration Division; Fisheries Development and Support Services Divisions; Aquaculture Division; Fisheries Resources Research Division; Exclusive Economic Zone Fisheries and Allied Services Division; Fishing Technology Division; Fisheries Regulation and Quarantine Division; and Post Harvest Technology Division. BFAR also manages eight Fisheries Technology Centers throughout the country.
Enforcement
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The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources issues licenses for commercial fishing vessels as well as identification cards for each fishing worker. It also inspects imports and exports of fish and other aquatic materials. Regional Director Dennis del Socorro recently warned illegal fishers and transporters of live tropical ornamental fishes that the agency is committed to thwarting illegal activities. Agents confiscated 655 undocumented tropical aquarium fish from a bus. No passenger claimed the illegal fish.
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Fishing
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BFAR overseas sea farming, sea ranching and seaweed cultures in the Philippines. One of the published goals of the agency is to increase resource productivity, improve resource efficiency and ensure the long-term sustainability of the county's fishery and aquatic resources. The "M/V DA-BFAR" is a research and oceanographic vessel that searches for "new potentially rich fishing grounds in the deep waters of the country" in order to attract commercial fishing offshore, leaving the municipal waters for the smaller fishers. This also helps to preserve the aquatic resources in the municipal waters.
Seaweed Farming
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The Philippines is one of the top producers of seaweeds in the world next to China and Japan. Seaweeds, including red seaweed, are exported fresh, dried or processed to the United States, France, China and other countries. Seaweed production has increased over the past five years and now makes up 27 percent of the total fisheries production. The Philippine seaweed industry employs more than 100,000 seaweed farmers, processors and traders. Because seaweed is an important component of the marine ecosystem, BFAR must consider both its ecological value as well as its economic uses. The agency continues to replenish the seaweed population by planning additional seaweed nurseries.
Urban Project
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According to BFAR, "most urban areas not only lack supply of affordable fish but they do not have much access to fresh ones as well." So the agency has set up concrete tanks and even used abandoned pig pens to start catfish production. This will give the people in urban areas of the Philippines access to fresh fish for food. The agency aims to produce fish "for aesthetic uses as well," so aquarium fish are also being farmed through this project. To ensure sustainability, BFAR is not only assisting with the stocking of the tanks but also providing feed and technical assistance as well.
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- Photo Credit fischerhafen image by Rebel from Fotolia.com
