Nine people’s organizations in Aborlan town received fish and crab nets from the Palawan Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Office (PG ENRO), which aims to conserve the 7 Lines Reef as a marine protected area.
The initiative on August 20 was driven by Governor Dennis Socrates’ desire to continue developing and protecting the 7 Lines Reef MPA and its rich coral cover
The recipient organizations include the Pantalan Fisherfolk Association, Asosasyon ng mga Responsableng Mangingisda ng Apo-aporawan (ARMAP), Samahan ng mga Mangingisda sa Isla Sombrero, Samahan ng Maliliit na Mangingisda sa Old Site, Old Site Fisherfolk Association, Sitio Aplaya Brgy. Ramon Magsaysay Fisherfolk Association, Del-at Fisherfolk Association, Small Scale Fisherman’s Association, and Tagpait Coastal Mangrove Association (TACMA).
Provincial ENRO head Atty. Noel Aquino said the distributed fish and crab nets will help small-scale fishers to sustain their livelihoods, particularly in the multiple-use zone of the 7 Lines Reef, allowing its core zone to recover from past destructive fishing practices.
PG ENRO is also intensifying the conservation program for the 7 Line Reef due to its critical contribution to marine biodiversity.
It continues to gather information and data on the current state of the coral reefs in the 7 Line Reef, which could serve as a basis for coral reef rehabilitation studies.
