West Visayas small fishers continue work for democratic and sustainable fisheries

August 8, 2024

Small fishers in Negros, Panay and Guimaras islands continue their work to promote and actualize their framework of Democratic and Sustainable Fisheries in their localities.

The Federation of Small Fisherfolks Associations in Hinigaran (FESFAH), founded on 2004 and the oldest existing local fishers federation in West Visayas, is now girding its 20 member people’s organizations (POs) to push its good fisheries governance agenda in the LGU. Just recently its member POs won the officers election for the Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Management Council (MFARMC).

Renchie Alison, FESFAH president, said they are now working to make the Hinigaran FARMC as a model of good fisheries governance towards Ecosystems Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM) thru participatory planning and budgeting.

In far south Negros, the fishers recently formed the Cauayan Small fishers Alliance (CAUSFA) and are strengthening the Kabankalan City Small Farmers and Fishers Alliance (KACSFFA).

In Panay and Guimaras, small fishers on many coastal towns and cities are building and strengthening their alliances including the Guimaras Small Fishers Alliance (GUISFA) and crab fishers alliances in north Iloilo.

In north Negros, crab fishers alliances on various LGUs are pushing for the adoption of the Blue Swimming Crabs ( BSC) National Management Plan Localization by their respective towns and cities.

Gerry Bedoya, chair of the Panay-Negros- Guimaras Crab Fishers Alliance (PANEG-CA), the largest small fishers network in the Visayas, said they are now preparing for the exit program of the NGOs for Fisheries Reform (NFR) Investing on Sustainability and Partnership for Inclusive Governance and Regenerative Ecosystems (INSPIRE), a project funded by the USAID- Gerry Roxas Foundation ( GRF), which will be held this Aug. 9 (Friday) at Nature’s Village Resort in Talisay City.

Bedoya said the PANEG-CA and other NFR partner fisher leaders will present their good practices during the summit.* (Hazel Aghon, PANEG-CA Secretariat)