TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan – Apprehensions over the protection of fishery and other natural resources, relative to the planned dredging of the Buguey Lagoon, can be put to rest after government agencies led by the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute has outlined a number of points to consider in order to forestall any negative effect of such activity . The lagoon, situated at Buguey town some 140 kilometers north of this capital city, is a center of fishery activities particularly seaweeds (Gracilaria) and oyster production, fry and crablets gathering, and fish cage operations. However, the area has been under threat recently due to heavy siltation and constriction resulting to poor water exchange. “The freshwater from the western end and saline water from the sea can not flow freely due to heavy siltation particularly at the portion near the main bridge which affects water quality and fishery operations in the lagoon,” Venchito Villarao, Coastal Resource Management spe

GONZAGA, CAGAYAN – As stakeholders in most parts of the country grapple with multitude of issues besetting the marine environment, a group of fishermen here had took it upon themselves to tackle problems directly affecting their livelihood. Vivencio Agcaoili, 60, says that Gonzaga, like most coastal towns, used to be very productive, “but over the years we have seen steady decline in fish catch due to indiscriminate and illegal fishing practices.” “The sea had become an almost lifeless place, we can hardly see any fish during our fishing ventures,” Agcaoili, president of the fisherfolk association of Brgy. San Jose, recalls. That is why his group together with another association from Brgy. Casitan readily agreed when officials of the Provincial Agriculture Office approached them as early as 2006 for the establishment of marine protected areas (MPA) adjacent their respective barangays. Starting March last year, both groups were trained on MPA management, including artificial reef const