The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) MIMAROPA has completed its stakeholder consultations in five major octopus-producing municipalities as part of a comprehensive assessment aimed at supporting sustainable management of the region’s octopus fisheries.
The fifth and final Clusterized Awareness Seminar and Stakeholders’ Feedbacking Session under the National Stock Assessment Program (NSAP) was held in Cuyo, Palawan, on September 24 in coordination with the local government through the Municipal Agriculture Office.
“The activity completed the stakeholder awareness and consultation component across the five identified major octopus-producing municipalities in the MIMAROPA Region,” BFAR MIMAROPA said in its press statement.
The Cuyo session brought together fisherfolk, traders, buyers, processors, consolidators, local government representatives and other fisheries stakeholders.
Darna Fuyonan, science research analyst, presented the project overview, including its objectives, methodologies, major activities and expected outputs. She also discussed octopus biology, focusing on growth, reproduction, life cycle and population dynamics as essential information for fisheries management.
Lenie Gonzales, aquaculturist II and NSAP project leader, meanwhile discussed “Good Practices vs. Harmful Adulteration of Octopus,” covering proper handling, processing, product quality, food safety and the economic impacts of adulteration throughout the octopus value chain.
BFAR also distributed Information, Education, and Communication brochures to reinforce responsible handling and processing practices among stakeholders.
Mapping Cuyo’s octopus fishery
A participatory mapping exercise was conducted to identify local octopus fishing grounds and document the movement of octopus products from harvesting and landing sites through trading, consolidation, processing and marketing.
The exercise also allowed BFAR to compare existing fisheries information with the knowledge and experiences of local stakeholders.
“The activity validated existing fisheries information while incorporating the local knowledge and experiences of stakeholders, providing valuable inputs for the project’s comprehensive assessment,” BFAR said.
The Cuyo activity marked the conclusion of the clusterized awareness seminars and stakeholder consultations in all five project areas.
BFAR said information gathered in Cuyo, together with data collected from the other municipalities, will be used in completing the regional assessment.
“The information gathered from Cuyo, together with data collected from the other municipalities, will contribute to the comprehensive assessment of octopus fisheries in the MIMAROPA Region,” the agency said.
The assessment is expected to provide the basis for future fisheries management measures, information materials and policy recommendations.
BFAR said the project will support the development of “science-based fisheries management interventions, IEC materials, and policy recommendations for the conservation and sustainable utilization of octopus resources.”
