To scale up local dialogues on the Philippine Fisheries and Coastal Resiliency (FishCoRe) Project, this year’s FishCoRe Talakayan, led by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, introduces new Market and School Editions, expanding beyond its original format focusing solely on fisherfolk. These activities were held at the Orani Public Market and the Bataan Peninsula State University in Orani, Bataan on September 2–3, 2025.
The three-part community dialogue initiative reflects FishCoRe Project’s ongoing efforts to foster inclusive and grassroots-level engagement by bringing Talakayan directly to key sectors – fisherfolk, market vendors, and students. To ensure relevance and impact, key messages were tailored to the specific needs and interests of each group.
Aimed to deepen participants’ understanding of the core objectives of the FishCoRe Project, which include sustainable fisheries management, coastal protection, enhanced community resiliency, and improved livelihoods, this year’s sessions focused on pressing issues relevant to the fisheries sector and coastal communities.
A key topic was Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing (IUUF), highlighting its detrimental impacts, such as depleted fish stocks, loss of biodiversity, and compromised livelihoods. The discussions underscored the crucial role of community-based enforcement and compliance in addressing IUUF, empowering local stakeholders to actively participate in sustainable fisheries management and protect critical resources for future generations.
The Shark Management Framework, which was launched in July this year, was another key focus of the sessions. The discussion aimed to educate participants about the ecological importance of sharks in maintaining marine ecosystems balance and the urgent call for their protection and conservation.
Lastly, to strengthen understanding of environmental safeguards and social inclusion, and to encourage active community participation in the FishCoRe project implementation, the project’s Stakeholder Engagement Plan and Grievance Redress System were presented, offering Bataeños with clear avenues to engage, raise concerns, and take part in achieving its outcomes.
By creating dedicated spaces, the participants were able to voice their perspectives, share local knowledge, and actively contribute to shaping fisheries and coastal resiliency efforts.
In support of the initiative, various Information, Education, and Communication materials were distributed to approximately 400 participants who took part in the activities.
