Ecosystems Improved for Sustainable Fisheries (ECOFISH) Project

The project aims to improve the management of important coastal and marine resources and associated ecosystems that support local economies. The main objective is to conserve biological diversity, enhance ecosystem productivity, and restore profitability of fisheries in eight marine key biodiversity areas (MKBAs) using the ecosystem approach to fisheries management (EAFM). The ECOFISH Project is designed to make an impact on eight MKBAs in the country, representing all six marine bio-regions of the Philippines. These areas were selected due to their extremely high need for marine biodiversity conservation and mirror the common issues impacting capture fisheries locally and nationally. The project will provide technical assistance to the Government of the Philippines (GPH) through DA-BFAR and implemented in partnership with selected LGUs. Implementation of the ECOFISH Project began in October 2012, with a series of meetings and briefings held with key stakeholders, including BFAR Director A. Perez, COR, and USAID/OEECC Chief R. Anderson. The project launch meeting was held on October 17, 2012, at BFAR, including formal ceremonies and presentation of project overview, key strategies, and activities. A short workshop on familiarization of focal sites and project areas and criteria for selecting the focal areas was also conducted. During the quarter, the ECOFISH team conducted ocular inspections of project launch venues, finalized documents, and set up the ECOFISH Cebu Office. Technical support was provided to USAID-RDMA in preparation for live reef fish trade dialogue between BFAR Director and his counterpart in Malaysia and Indonesia. Exploratory visits were conducted in 6 mainland LGUs of Surigao del Norte and 8 LGUs in Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte, with Provincial Fishery Staff. The ECOFISH Project is expected to contribute to achieving "Development Objective 3: Environmental Resilience Improved" (particularly "IR1.3. Natural Resources and Environmental Services Improved") of the proposed results framework for the planned USAID/Philippines Mission's Country Development Cooperation Strategy. The project is also designed to contribute to priority goals and actions laid out in the Philippine Development Plan (2011-2016), particularly Chapter 4 (Competitive and Sustainable Agriculture and Fisheries), and Chapter 10 (Protection, Conservation and Rehabilitation of Environment and Natural Resources).