PRDP supports Agdangan’s marine conservation thrust

Date Published: October 16, 2020

The Natural Resource Management (NRM) Unit of the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) assisted the municipal government of Agdangan in establishing monitoring blocks in Bahurang Silag Fish Sanctuary.

With support from the Geomapping and Governance Unit (GGU) of PRDP CALABARZON, the team and the Bantay-Dagat personnel located two stations, one in a shallower area of the sanctuary and another in a deeper area, to which the monitoring blocks will be placed. Three monitoring blocks made of concrete were placed in each station while another two blocks were placed outside the sanctuary. Buoys and steels were then attached to the blocks.

“These monitoring blocks are important in conducting assessments and research. It allows the researchers to find good spot to conduct monitoring fast. It also ensures that the data collected will remain consistent and reliable over time,” Elvie Jane Lagan, Natural Resource Management (NRM) Officer assigned to PRDP CALABARZON, said.

The group also observed and surveyed the status of coral reef in the sanctuary. Improvements on surface area of the reefs as well as coral debris and bleaching were noted. The larger biophysical assessment for the MPA will be conducted in September 2020.

The Bahurang Silag Fish Sanctuary was established in 1997 after the passing of a municipal ordinance. It covers 42.2 ha. of the municipal waters fronting the barangays of Salvacion and Silangang Calutan.

Aside from that, the NRM team also helped in locating and surveying the areas for the proposed Lawis Marine Protected Area (MPA). The group also met with Agdangan LGU and Bantay-dagat possible reactions and effects of this proposed sanctuary to surrounding fishing communities especially since it covers substantive area.

The PRDP – NRM Unit supports the subprojects funded from grant through the Global Environment Facility (GEF). In CALABARZON region, only the municipality of Agdangan, Quezon has GEF-funded subprojects: the rehabilitation of Bahurang Silag Fish Sanctuary and two seaweeds microenterprises. # (Lawrence Albert Bariring, DA-PRDP CALABARZON InfoACE Unit)

 

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