BFAR Fisheries Resources Management Division

29/07/2026

𝐆𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐞𝐟: 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰!�

The Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR), through the Fisheries Resources Management Division (FRMD), joined forces with Regional Fisheries Office VI on July 20-24, 2026, to conduct an underwater marine habitat assessment and strengthen the technical capabilities of regional divers. Through standardized coral reef monitoring, community engagement, and knowledge sharing, the activity reinforced the importance of science-based management in safeguarding our marine ecosystems.

�The assessment revealed a reef that continues to support diverse coral communities and ecologically significant species, including the giant clam (Tridacna squamosa), a positive indicator of reef health. At the same time, the team documented coral bleaching and coral rubble—clear reminders that climate change and destructive human activities continue to threaten our underwater ecosystems. These findings highlight the urgent need for sustained monitoring, stronger law enforcement, and collective stewardship to protect our coastal resources for future generations.
�
Beyond the assessment, BFAR Central Office officially turned over two complete SCUBA equipment sets to BFAR Region VI, empowering the regional dive team to independently conduct regular underwater monitoring and conservation initiatives. This is more than the turnover of equipment—it is an investment in people, science, and the future of Philippine fisheries. Together, we continue to build stronger institutions, healthier reefs, and more resilient coastal communities.🌊🐠🇵🇭

29/07/2026

𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐟𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐁𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧 𝐍𝐨. 𝟏𝟖
𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔
𝟐𝟖 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

Shellfish collected and tested from Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur; Tantanang Bay in Zamboanga Sibugay Province; Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar; Coastal waters of Biliran Island and Irong-Irong Bay in Samar are 𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐋𝐋 𝐏𝐎𝐒𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐄 for Paralytic Shellfish Poison (PSP) or toxic red tide that is beyond the regulatory limit.

All types of shellfish and 𝑨𝒄𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝒔𝒑. or alamang gathered from these areas are 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐒𝐀𝐅𝐄 for human consumption.

Fish, squids, shrimps, and crabs are safe for human consumption provided that they are fresh and washed thoroughly, and internal organs such as gills and intestines are removed before cooking.

17/07/2026

02/07/2026

𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐋𝐚𝐰 𝐄𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐚 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), through the Fisheries Resource Management Division – Conservation and Environmental Protection Section (FRMD-CEPS), successfully conducted the Workshop on Fishery Law Enforcement Data Analysis and Regional Dashboard Development on June 22–26, 2026, at the BFAR Fishery Law Enforcement Training Facility in Pagbilao, Quezon. The activity brought together designated Regional Fisheries Law Enforcement Report Officers from across the country to strengthen their capacity in data analysis and performance reporting.

The workshop enhanced the participants' capabilities in organizing, validating, and analyzing fishery law enforcement data while equipping them with practical skills in developing interactive dashboards using Microsoft Excel. Through the creation of their respective Regional Fishery Law Enforcement Dashboards, participants transformed operational data into meaningful visual reports that support performance monitoring, identify enforcement trends and violation hotspots, and provide actionable insights for evidence-based planning and decision-making.

A key outcome of the workshop is the development of standardized Regional Fishery Law Enforcement Dashboards that will serve as the foundation for the BFAR National Fishery Law Enforcement Dashboard. This initiative will strengthen the Bureau's capacity to consolidate enforcement information nationwide, improve monitoring and evaluation, and support strategic, data-driven decision-making at both the regional and national levels.

This initiative reflects BFAR's continuing commitment to modernizing fishery law enforcement through innovation, standardization, and the effective use of data in support of the fight against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and the sustainable management of the country's fisheries resources.

Because better data leads to better decisions—and better decisions lead to stronger fishery law enforcement.

01/07/2026

𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐅𝐈𝐓 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞-𝐃𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐅𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐋𝐚𝐰 𝐄𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), through the Fisheries Resource Management Division – Conservation and Environmental Protection Section (FRMD-CEPS), successfully conducted the Training Workshop on IFIT Data Encoding, Cleaning, Consolidation, and National Database Development from June 8–12, 2026, at the BFAR Fishery Law Enforcement Training Facility in Pagbilao, Quezon.

The five-day workshop brought together designated IFIT Focal Persons from BFAR Regional Offices to consolidate and standardize data generated through the IUU Fishing Index and Threat (IFIT) Assessment Tool from workshops conducted nationwide between 2021 and 2026.

Participants worked collaboratively to encode, clean, validate, and harmonize thousands of IFIT records into a unified National IFIT Database. Through a systematic review of historical datasets, the workshop resolved data inconsistencies, standardized reporting formats, and improved the completeness, accuracy, and reliability of fisheries law enforcement information.

The development of the National IFIT Database marks a significant milestone in strengthening BFAR's fisheries monitoring, control, and surveillance (MCS) program. By integrating years of IFIT data into a centralized repository, BFAR is enhancing its ability to identify emerging fisheries threats, analyze national and regional trends, prioritize enforcement interventions, and support evidence-based policy and operational decision-making.

More than a data consolidation initiative, the workshop reinforces BFAR's commitment to institutionalizing a culture of quality data management and intelligence-driven fisheries law enforcement. A reliable national database provides the foundation for strategic planning, effective resource allocation, and coordinated efforts to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, ultimately contributing to the sustainable management and conservation of the country's fisheries resources.

24/06/2026

Shellfish Bulletin No. 15
Series of 2026
24 June 2026

Shellfishes collected and tested from Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur; Tantanang Bay in Zamboanga Sibugay Province; Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar and coastal waters of Daram, Samar; and coastal water of Biliran Island are 𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐋𝐋 𝐏𝐎𝐒𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐄 for Paralytic Shellfish Poison (PSP) or toxic red tide that is beyond the regulatory limit.

All types of shellfish and 𝑨𝒄𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝒔𝒑. or alamang gathered from these areas are 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐒𝐀𝐅𝐄 for human consumption.

Fish, squids, shrimps, and crabs are safe for human consumption provided that they are fresh and washed thoroughly, and internal organs such as gills and intestines are removed before cooking.

10/06/2026

𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐏𝐒 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐄𝐅𝐅𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐅𝐈𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒 𝐋𝐀𝐖 𝐄𝐍𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐂𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓

The National Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee – Sub-Committee on Fishing and Marine Environmental Protection (NALECC-SCFMEP) successfully convened its 1st Semi-Annual Meeting on 05 June 2026 at the ATI Conference Hall, Quezon City, bringing together key government agencies committed to safeguarding the country's fisheries resources and marine environment.

The meeting was presided over by Assistant Director Isidro M. Velayo, Jr., MDM, Assistant Director for Operations and Technical Services of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).

Among the highlights of the meeting were discussions on strengthening the institutional framework of the NALECC-SCFMEP through the adoption of key resolutions, including the formalization of membership, adoption of the Terms of Reference, establishment of a standard reporting mechanism, and the adoption of the Fishery Law Enforcement Manual of Operation (FLEMO) as the national standard operating protocol for fisheries law enforcement operations.

Participating agencies included 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐆𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐝 (𝐏𝐂𝐆), 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐞 – 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩 (𝐏𝐍𝐏-𝐌𝐆), 𝐁𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐮 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐬 (𝐁𝐎𝐂), 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 (𝐏𝐏𝐀), 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐅𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 (𝐏𝐅𝐃𝐀), 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐧𝐭𝐢-𝐎𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐏𝐀𝐎𝐂𝐂), 𝐁𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐮 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐁𝐈), 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 (𝐃𝐎𝐉), 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 (𝐍𝐌𝐂), 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐬 (𝐏𝐎𝐌𝐂), 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 (𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐀).

The meeting reaffirmed the collective commitment of partner agencies to strengthen inter-agency cooperation, intelligence sharing, operational coordination, and policy support in addressing illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and other fisheries and marine environmental violations.

As challenges in fisheries governance and marine protection continue to evolve, so must our collective response. Through stronger partnerships, harmonized enforcement efforts, and sustained collaboration, government agencies remain united in safeguarding our marine resources and advancing sustainable fisheries for present and future generations.

08/06/2026

Shellfish Bulletin No. 14
Series of 2026
06 June 2026

Shellfishes collected and tested from Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur; Tantanang Bay in Zamboanga Sibugay Province; Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar and coastal waters of Daram, Samar; and coastal water of Biliran Island are 𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐋𝐋 𝐏𝐎𝐒𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐄 for Paralytic Shellfish Poison (PSP) or toxic red tide that is beyond the regulatory limit.

All types of shellfish and 𝑨𝒄𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝒔𝒑. or alamang gathered from these areas are 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐒𝐀𝐅𝐄 for human consumption.

Fish, squids, shrimps, and crabs are safe for human consumption provided that they are fresh and washed thoroughly, and internal organs such as gills and intestines are removed before cooking.

01/06/2026

Shellfish Bulletin No. 13
Series of 2026
01 June 2026

Shellfishes collected and tested from Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur; Tantanang Bay in Zamboanga Sibugay Province; Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar; Panguil Bay in Misamis Occidental and Lanao Del Norte and Coastal waters of Biliran Island are still positive for Paralytic Shellfish Poison(PSP) or toxic red tide that is beyond the regulatory limit

All types of shellfish and 𝑨𝒄𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝒔𝒑. or alamang gathered from these areas are 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐒𝐀𝐅𝐄 for human consumption.
Fish, squids, shrimps, and crabs are safe for human consumption provided that they are fresh and washed thoroughly, and internal organs such as gills and intestines are removed before cooking.