IVATAN fishers from different municipalities of Batanes were gathered for a Provincial Fisherfolk Assembly and fisherfolk forum held at the BFAR Provincial Fishery Office in Basco, Batanes.
The forum, which was led by DA-BFAR National Director Atty. Demosthenes R. Escoto together with local officials led by Congressman Ciriaco B. Gato, Jr., representative of the lone district of Batanes, aimed to provide a platform for the fisherfolk to raise and inform the local and national government of the various and unique challenges and issues they encounter while fishing in the resource-rich fishing grounds of the province.
Batanes, being an archipelagic province situated in the northernmost part of the Philippines, boasts a rich marine ecosystem and diverse fisheries resources.
Fisheries play a significant role in the livelihoods and culture of the community, many of whom rely on fishing and related activities for sustenance and income.
Fishing activities primarily revolve around small-scale, artisanal fishing operations due to the province’s remote location and limited infrastructure.
As livelihood support, the DA-BFAR distributed fishing gears to the fisherfolk participants of Batan and Sabtang Islands.
