DAVAO CITY—Fisherfolk here will be trained in marine environmental protection in observance of the 53rd Fish Conservation Week from October 17-21.
The trainees will be taught conservation and fishery laws to protect their source of livelihood and improve their income.
Mary Moratin, head of the Davao City Agriculture Office’s Fishery Resource Management Services Division, said the 36,000 members of the Federation of Fisherfolks Associations of Davao City from 24 coastal villages will be instilled with a “sense of volunteerism among fisherfolks and develop them as potential partners in the implementation of coastal environment conservation programs.”
Tirso Avila, chairman of the Tibungco Fisherfolks Association, said that after the fisherfolk were organized it became easier for them to make a living, improve and gain more knowledge of fishing techniques, gain support from concerned agencies and most importantly attain security in the coastal communities with the discontinuation of dynamite fishing.
“Fish yields in the past declined because of dynamite fishing and enforcing the explosives ban has placed our lives and our families in danger because of threats,” said the 63-year-old Avila.
He thanked the city government for its help and the national government for giving them fishing boats. Members of his group have volunteered to be sea watchers or “Bantay Laot.”