Highlighting the importance of nurturing the environment while setting good policy directions, Agriculture Secretary William Dar urged the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) to make fishers live more prosperously than before.

Dar stressed that combatting illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUUF) plays an important part in the government’s drive in advancing the well-being and resilience of Philippine fisherfolk, while promoting sustainable fisheries.

“Look at sustainable practices and avoid overfishing,” Dar underscored at the closeout event of USAID Oceans and Fisheries Partnership (USAID Oceans).

Dar thanked the USAID and the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) for partnering with the DA-BFAR, in the development of the Electronic Catch Documentation System (e-CDTS), which aims to streamline and digitize the Philippine documentation process and simplify the traceability of fisheries products.

According to Dar, the initiative, which promotes modern and sustainable practices towards more effective fisheries management, forms part of the “New Thinking for Agriculture” framework.

Overall, the e-CDTS seeks to combat IUUF, ensure food safety and improve management of fisheries and aquatic resources.

After the five-year partnership which involves experimentation and pilot-testing, Dar calls for the institutionalization of the learnings and experiences.

“Use this to increase productivity and sustain the ecosystems,” he said.

With e-CDTS and other significant technologies in place, Dar is looking forward to the leveling up of the fishery sector, and securing a new record high of 25-30 percent gross value added in agriculture from its current 18 percent level. ###