The 56th Fish Conservation Week begins in full colors with a vibrant parade of employees dressed as aquatic animals and seafood showcase on September 16, 2019 at the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources’ Central Office in Diliman, Quezon City.
This year’s theme “Itaguyod ang Malinis at Masaganang Karagatan Tungo sa Masaganang Ani at Mataas na Kita sa Industriya ng Pangisdaan” is anchored on Agriculture Secretary William Dar’s “New Thinking” for Agriculture, which focuses on ensuring the bountiful harvest and increased income of farmers and fisherfolk towards achieving a food secure Philippines.
“With the cooperation of both the government and the fisheries stakeholders, we ensure the effectivity of our campaigns in improving harvest and income to ensure food security and raise the socio-economic status of our fisherfolk,” DA-BFAR National Director Eduardo Gongona said.
One of the highlights of the 2019 Fish Con’s Opening Ceremony is the launching of the new brand tagline of the DA-BFAR: “Tagapagtaguyod ng Malinis at Masaganang Karagatan,” which took inspiration from the flagship program of the Bureau. The said program, the Malinis at Masaganang Karagatan (MMK): The National Search for Outstanding Coastal Communities, provides livelihood incentives to coastal communities that adopt coastal resource management and enforcement of fisheries laws in their local government units.
As with tradition every Fish Conservation Week, the DA-BFAR presents Gawad Pagkilala and Gawad Pasasalamat awards to exemplary individuals and industry partners who have contributed largely to the conservation of aquatic resources and continuous development of the fisheries sector in general.
To complete the festivities, local fisheries entrepreneurs will make up the BFAR Seafood Village at the PCA Covered Court from September 16-18 to promote and sell seafood products at a more affordable price. Among other activities is the MMK Comics Coloring Books Contest whose participants are gradeschool students from three public elementary schools in Quezon City.
The Fish Conservation Week is celebrated every third week of September as part of the Maritime and Archipelagic Nation Awareness Month (MANA Month) as declared by Presidential Proclamation No. 316 in 2018, which aims to harmonize, integrate and synchronize maritime and archipelagic programs and activities.
Reference:
BFAR Information and Fisherfolk Coordination Unit
Tel #: (02) 454-5863
