BANGUED, Abra | About 150 students and faculty members of the University of Abra (UoA) Lagangilang and Bangued Campus gained deeper insights into fisheries conservation as the Fisheries and Coastal Resiliency (FishCoRe) Caravan continues in the province for its second run on March 11 and 13 with the theme, “FishCore Caravan: From Awareness to Action – Building Resilient and Sustainable Fisheries in Abra 2.0.”
“As young people, you have the power to become champions of our rivers and aquatic resources. By learning about them today, you’re already taking the first step toward becoming future scientists, environmental leaders, and advocates for sustainable fisheries,” BFAR-CAR Regional Director Lois June B. Fermin said, highlighting the role of youth in environmental stewardship.
The caravan is part of the FishCoRe project’s Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) initiative in the Cordillera, aimed at empowering youth and rallying them around the shared goal of protecting, conserving, and managing the province’s aquatic resources. It gathered students from the Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, Bachelor of Agricultural Technology, Bachelor of Science in Biology, Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science, and Bachelor of Science in Crop Science programs participating in the activity.
“Abra’s link to the West Philippine Sea through the Abra River makes it an important and dynamic ecosystem that supports biodiversity and the livelihoods of local communities,” said Dr. Nico Jose S. Leander of BFAR Region III, Resource Speaker.
Dr. Leander also discussed ecosystems in Fisheries Management Area 6, specifically Abra-the only province in CAR covered by this FMA. Although the Cordillera region is landlocked, it supports migratory fish species such as gobies, eels, and ludong that rely on both freshwater and marine ecosystems to complete their life cycle. Because of this ecological connection, and with science-based interventions in place, the region was included in Fisheries Management Areas 1 and 6, particularly the provinces of Apayao and Abra, respectively, under Fisheries Office Order No. 028, s. 2021, but only Abra was covered under the FishCoRe Project.
Apart from this, the Worldbank-funded FishCore Project was also conveyed where Dr. Lilibeth Signey, Assistant Technical Coordinator, shared the project’s basic background, including its subcomponents: FishCRMM, MARLIN, and SuPrIM. Meanwhile, the FMA system was presented by the Assistant FCU Head, Carmelita Bolla, providing students with an overview of initiatives aimed at strengthening fisheries management in the region.
FishCRMM Lead Focal Mary Tauli presented the Abra Province Fisheries Profile to raise awareness and understanding of the province’s aquatic resources and fisheries sector. Partners from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources through PENRO Abra also discussed the province’s activities and programs.
Interactive games also engaged students to test their knowledge of fish species and fishing gear in the Abra River, while highlighting the importance of local biodiversity and sustainable fishing practices.
“This caravan truly inspires me and strengthens my resolve as a student to become an advocate for conserving and managing our fisheries. So by doing so, we can help ensure the future generations who can enjoy the benefits of the fish resources we have today, making our fish sustainable for years to come,” said Emmarie T. Pineda, a student of BS in Agricultural Technology. She also shared that the conducted caravan is recommendable as it serves as awareness and gives an open mind to students in terms of preservation and protection of biodiversity as well as fisheries.
“It is a very well-prepared caravan, and it’s a big opportunity sa amin na youth na maranasan ‘to,” said Mark Christopher A. Jiminez, a student of BS Agriculture. He also recommended it for the next batches and expressed his gratitude for the event.
“Naamoan mi pay nga electrofishing ti main nga us-usaren da nga agal-ala ti lames, ti ammo mi ket fishnet lang gamin. Ken naamoan mi nga ado gayam ti species nga iprod-produce ti fisheries ditoy Abra (We learned that electrofishing is the main method they use in catching fish here. We used to think that fishnets were the only ones used. We also learned that many fish species are produced here in Abra.), shared Allen Orilla, a student of BSA-Crop Science.
Other students likewise expressed their new learnings on the life cycles and migration of various fish in their province.
Through activities like the FishCore Caravan, BFAR-CAR continues to engage students and future agri-fisheries professionals in promoting responsible fisheries management and the conservation of aquatic resources in the Cordillera region, particularly in the province of Abra, which is covered by FMA 6.
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