29/07/2026
BFAR IX Strengthens Partnership with LGUs and Academe for Sustainable Curacha Management
ZAMBOANGA CITY, July 27, 2026 # The Department of AgricultureโBureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) Regional Office IX, through the Fisheries Management Area (FMA) 4 initiative, brought together local government units (LGUs) and academic institutions for a coordination meeting aimed at advancing the sustainable management and conservation of Curacha (Spanner Crab).
The activity served as a venue for government agencies, local government units, and research institutions to strengthen collaboration in developing science-based strategies that will protect and sustain the Curacha fishery. Participants reviewed the current status of Curacha production in Zamboanga City, discussed key challenges affecting the resource, and examined available fisheries data and scientific studies to support future management decisions.
The group also explored possible collaborative initiatives, including research, resource enhancement, monitoring, and livelihood support for fishing communities that depend on the Curacha industry. Discussions focused on identifying practical and long-term management measures that will help ensure the sustainability of the resource for future generations.
Among the proposed interventions were conducting reproductive biology studies, establishing lying-in facilities to support stock enhancement, strengthening the monitoring of Curacha landings, implementing minimum catch size regulations, and protecting gravid or egg-bearing Curacha. Participants also proposed the creation of a multi-agency Technical Working Group (TWG) to oversee the planning and implementation of sustainable management efforts.
The meeting likewise outlined plans to conduct stakeholder consultations in Manalipa Island to gather inputs from local fishing communities. The recommendations from the consultations will be elevated to the FMA 4 Management Board as part of the development of a comprehensive Curacha Management Plan.
Representatives from DA-BFAR IX, Office of the City Agriculturist (OCA), Western Mindanao Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development Center (WESMAARDEC), and Zamboanga State College of Marine Sciences and Technology (ZSCMST) participated in the meeting. Among those in attendance were Dr. Dulce Amor P. Matondo, Deputy Director of WESMAARDEC; Dr. Gododrefo T. Oliveria, Chief of the Fisheries Resource Support Division (FRSD) of the OCA; Ms. Marinneth B. Galleron of the FRSD-OCA; Engr. Erwin V. Kulayan of the Office of the City Agriculturist; Dr. Angelo C. Macario, Assistant Dean of the College of Fisheries and Allied Sciences (CFAS) of ZSCMST; and Dr. Maila V. Pan, Officer-in-Charge of the Office of the Vice President for Research, Innovation and Extension (OIC-VPRIE) of ZSCMST.
One of the meeting's key outcomes was the agreement to establish a Technical Working Group composed of government agencies, academic institutions, and other relevant stakeholders. The TWG will lead the formulation and implementation of the Curacha Management Plan under the Fisheries Management Area (FMA) framework. Through this collaborative effort, BFAR IX and its partners aim to strengthen research, policy development, stakeholder engagement, and science-based fisheries management to ensure the long-term conservation and sustainable utilization of Curacha in Zamboanga City and neighboring fishing grounds.
