Authorities will integrate climate change adaptation (CCA) into the fisheries management plan for each of the eight Philippine marine key biodiversity areas (MKBAs) where they will pilot the 2012-2017 Ecosystems Improved for Sustainable Fisheries (Ecofish) project.
They are optimistic that such move will help meet Ecofish’s target 10-percent increase in fish biomass and number of gainfully employed people there through sustainable management of coastal and marine resources as well as ecosystems associated with these.
“We’ll include CCA measures in the MKBAs’ respective plans to help address climate change’s impact on fisheries there,” said Geronimo Silvestre, head of consultants from Tetra Tech ARD, which United States Agency for International Development (USAID) tapped to help Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) implement the project.
BFAR identified the biodiversity-rich MKBA-Ecofish project sites’ locations as Lingayen Gulf, Verde Island Passage, Calamianes Island Group, Lagonoy Gulf, Danajon Reef, South Negros Island, Surigao and Sulu archipelago.
The agency and its partners officially launched Ecofish in Metro Manila during the 2012 celebration of Fish Conservation Week this month.
Ecofish seeks to help raise Philippine fisheries production by promoting sustainable management of coastal and marine resources and related ecosystems.
“It’s more wholistic than just addressing sustainability of target species,” Silvestre said.
He hopes that Ecofish’s ecosystems-based approach to fisheries management (EAFM) can be eventually replicated in other areas nationwide.
Agriculture chief Proceso Alcala considers Ecofish timely, noting that Philippine fisheries production shrank over the years with the decline hitting some 3.3 percent during the first half of 2012.
“We must do what needs to be done -we have the means to address such problem,” he said.
BFAR director Asis Perez agrees, believing that Ecofish will help boost Philippine fisheries.
“Ecofish will benefit our country,” he said.
Experts already identified coral bleaching as among climate change’s impacts on fisheries.
They noted coral bleaching results from sea temperature rise caused by climate change.
Bleaching occurs when heat-stressed coral polyps expel symbiotic algae from coral tissues.
Such algae provides most of the food and oxygen corals need to survive, they said.
Loss of the algae compromises corals’ survival and leaves these with a whitish color that gives a bleached appearance, they continued.
Experts continue advocating protection of coral reefs, noting these serve as foraging ground for various fishery species.
Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau Director Theresa Mundita Lim earlier warned unless proper conservation and protection interventions are done, the Philippines could lose its coral reefs in 10 to 20 years.
“It can’t be business as usual as latest studies show less than one percent of our coral reefs is still in excellent condition,” she said.
She noted that studies also show some 40 percent of the country’s 26,000 square kilometers of coral reefs are already “in poor condition.”
Silvestre said development of the MKBAs’ respective fisheries management plans will commence next year.
“We’ll consult agencies and stakeholders concerned to come up with plans that are comprehensive and climate-resilient,” he said.
Silvestre said parties concerned are already coordinating to prepare for the planning task ahead.
Aside from CCA, he said each of the plans will define roles of every party involved in the Ecofish project.
The environment and interior departments are supporting Ecofish’s implementation.
Roles of both departments will be defined in the MKBAs’ respective plans as well, Silvestre added. [PNA]
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