BACOLOD City – A model village for blue swimming crab (BSC) was launched in Barangay Tortosa, Manapla, Negros Occidental on Friday, September 27.
The BSC Adopt-a-Village Project is a public-private-community partnership initiated as a pilot implementation of the BSC National Management Plan which aims to ensure the sustainability of crab resources and increase community engagement in the conservation and protection of the commodity and improvement of seafood watch rating.
The project envisions improving the socio-economic conditions of the BSC fishers and other community members through profitable social enterprise.
It is also designed to follow the ecosystems approach to fisheries management to achieve multiple objectives on human and economic well-being and good governance.
Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, who led the project launching together with Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Region 6 director Remia Aparri and Manapla’s Mayor Manuel Escalante III, said the vision behind the project is anchored on empowerment and sustainability, establishing a community partnership that harmonizes innovation with tradition and ensuring that resources are utilized wisely.
He also said that public-private-community partnership is a powerful approach to addressing complex social, economic and environmental challenges that create a more integrated and effective approach to community development and innovative solutions.
The Department of Agriculture and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) also expressed support and commitment to the project./PN
