BFAR’s Fish Landing Center Benefits Fisherfolk, Local Consumers

Local consumers from Sanchez Mira town in this province are enjoying the benefits of having a Community Fish Landing Center (CFLC) through a better access to safe, quality, and cheaper aquatic produce.

Fisherfolk have already tried selling their produce during the CFLC dry-run operations conducted by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) on December 17.

In a statement, BFAR said consumers eagerly flocked to CFLC during the dry-run operations to buy fish such as tilapia that are sold at lower price compared to those being sold in the public markets.

The establishment of the CFLC has enabled fisherfolk to maintain the good quality of their catch which they could sell for a better price since there are no longer middlemen involved.

According to Provincial Fisherfolk Officer Venchito Villarao, before the establishment of CLFC, selling of aquatic produce has to go through layered process because of the presence of “tumbador” and “kitong-kitong”.

“Magandang simula ang naganap na ‘dry run’ kaalinsabay sa layunin ng ahensya na itaas ang produksyon ng isda sa mga marine water area,” Villarao said.

In a meeting with the president of thefisherfolk association, the Municipal Agriculturist and other stakeholders, Villarao discussed the need to have a federation of fisherfolk associations and the requirements needed to sustain the operations of CFLC including the management of its possible income.

For his part, Sanchez Mira Mayor Asela Sacramed expressed support for CFLC saying that it was their longtime wish to have a facility that will enhance the development of the fishing industry in their area.

The community-based fish landing centers will also serve as hubs for other activities like skills training, monitoring of fish catch stocks, information generation and a venue for sharing of sustainable and disaster-resilient fisheries-based livelihoods and resource management.

The BFAR-CFLC project under its Targeted Action to Reduce Poverty and Generate Economic Transformation (TARGET) umbrella program aims to reduce poverty incidence and help people increase their income.

Aside from Sanchez Mira, CFLC dry-run operations were also conducted at the municipalities of Camalaniugan and Claveria in Cagayan province. Aparri, Cagayan and Ramon, Isabela are set to have its respective dry-run next year. (MDCT/With reports from BFAR-2/PIA 2-Cagayan)