Orientation Course of Fisheries Sector And Coastal Resource Management Planning
Rationale:The Fisheries Sector Program is a comprehensive effort to attain an ecologically balanced utilization of marine resources as a basic strategy for long-term sustainable development in the fisheries sector. This can be achieved through proper exploitation and protection of the fishery resources. This dual approach of management requires maximum participation from all sectors of coastal communities to ensure that benefits will accrue to the majority of the people.
The increasing recognition of cooperating organizations like the non-government organizations and the agricultural and fishing councils provides an opportunity for Fisheries Sector Program (FSP) to interlink its program in the municipal / provincial / regional level.. The so-called people-based non-government organizations (NGOs) could complement the government and the private sector as the major shapers of the country’s destiny. These NGOs possess a wide range of technical expertise ranging from organizing and communications to financial and organizational management. On the other hand, the agricultural and fishery councils at present are working closely with and supporting aggressively the Department of Agriculture’s plans and programs in the municipal / provincial / regional level. There is also a progressive political trend of the direct participation of the local government units (LGUs) in implementing projects in the locality and a demand for an access to resources in their area of jurisdiction. The LGUs have capabilities to provide the basic services to and compliment national agencies in addressing problems in their localities.
It is in the respect that the Department of Agriculture has initiated institutional and policy reforms which provide a framework for Fisheries sector program implementation. Among the reforms are directly related to resource management and environmental concern, promotions of community-based initiative and decentralization of the management of nearshore/coastal fisheries.
Thus, orientation course is aimed to orient local government units and selected leaders of fishing communities of the three priority bay areas (target you own priority coastal area) on the management policies and strategies for an integrated costal resource management.