TMP Stakeholders Visit Philippines BFAR

Posted by: Hui Ling

Mr. Lawrence Kissol, Head of Marine Resource Management of Department of Fisheries Sabah, presenting a Maliangin mat as a token of appreciation to Dr. Alma Dickson, Head of National Marine Fisheries Development Center of Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.

© WWF-Malaysia / Irwanshah Mustapa

“It is important to manage the declining fisheries resources in the proposed Tun Mustapha Park, and we need fisheries data to help with fisheries management,”

Fazrullah Rizally Abdul Razak, Head of Marine Park Section, Sabah Parks.

A study visit to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)’s Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) Station in Navotas City, Manila was organized by WWF-Malaysia from 22-23 March 2011. Three members of the Persatuan Pemilik Kapal Nelayan Kudat (PPKNK), 2 staff of Department of Fisheries Sabah, 2 staff of Sabah Parks and 2 staff of WWF-Malaysia were part of the group that visited the MCS Station and the National Fisheries Research and Development Centre.

The reason for the visit was to learn about the objectives, operation and training, and data protocols of the Fisheries Observer Programme (FOP) at the station, and to learn the issues related to FOPs in the Philippines. The group hoped that the FOP can be implemented as part of fisheries management in the proposed Tun Mustapha Park.

The group learned that:

1. Data on fisheries resources (i.e. status of fish stock, fishing ground, catch and landing) and fishing effort (i.e. number and capacity of fishing vessels, type of fishing gears, and number of fishermen) are important for management;
2. Fisheries observers (i.e. individual station on-board fishing vessels to observe fishing operation) can be helpful in gathering this information; and
3. The Fisheries Observer Programme being implemented in the Philippines can be implemented with adaptation and modification to suit local needs in the proposed Tun Mustapha Park.

The study visit was funded by the USAID’s Coral Triangle Support Partnership, WWF-Malaysia and donation in-kind from Department of Fisheries Sabah and Sabah Parks.

Participants observe fishing net being repaired at a fishing port in Navotas City, Manila, Philippines.

© WWF-Malaysia / Irwanshah Mustapa

“An ecosystem based management approach is important for the proposed Tun Mustapha Park, where impact on the ecosystem, resources and well-being of the people dependent on these are taken into account in establishing a collaborative management system,”

Irwanshah Mustapa, Team Leader of Kudat-Banggi PCA Project, WWF-Malaysia.