THE Southern Philippines Deep Sea Fishing Association, Inc. (SOPHIL) in partnership with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has launched an alternative livelihood program for marginal fisherfolks here in the Zamboanga Peninsula.
The SOPHIL, through the program launched Thursday, May 31, will distribute for free fishing gears for “high-valued species” to marginal fisherfolks to help boost their income.
SOPHIL members comprises of fishing firms that supply fish to canning firms based in this city.
“We want the marginal fisherfolks to improve their lives,” Roberto Baylosis, SOPHIL executive vice president.
Among the high-value species they can catch are tuna, red grouper, Salay-salay Ginto (scad) and others like cuttlefish.
Initially, SOPHIL has distributed 330 fishing gears to groups of marginal fisherfolks in the region.
Baylosis said the distribution of the fishing gears for free is part of the corporate social responsibility (CSR) of SOPHIL.
BFAR Regional Director Isidro Velayo, Jr. is happy to note that SOPHIL is complementing the program of BFAR aimed to uplift the lives of the marginal fisherfolks.
Velayo said they have already distributed fishing gears like squid jiggers and tuna handlines to the fisherfolks in the region.
“This (distribution of fishing gears) will augment to the ones we have already given to the fisherfolks,” Velayo said.
He said there are some 300,000 marginal fisherfolks in the region but they will give priority to those in the depressed like the so-called triple “SB” areas that covers the towns of Sibuco, Sirawai, Siocon, and Baliguian in the province of Zamboanga del Norte.
The launching of the program highlighted the culmination program of the 2018 Farmer’s and Fisherfolks’ Month. (Bong Garcia/SunStar Philippines)