“Strategies For Trawl Fisheries Bycatch Management” (REBYC-II CTI Project) Report of The National Advisory Group (NAG) Meeting New Maqueda Bay Hotel, Catbalogan City, Samar; October 14, 2016

Abstract

A concluding National Advisory Group Meeting was held to review the accomplishments/ achievements of the “Strategies for trawl fisheries bycatch management” (REBYC-II CTI) Project, including the draft Samar Sea Fisheries Management Plan (SSFMP), its implementation, monitoring and evaluation plan and consider advice on the way forward to sustain the project achievements and possible next phase of the project. The SSFMP is to be implemented by the Samar Sea Alliance of Local Government Units for Fisheries Management and Development, with support from Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Local government Units and other stakeholders. The Plan had been developed using the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management and on the basis of results of surveys conducted by the REBYC-II CTI Project, in collaboration with BFAR and the Samar State University. The meeting discussed also relevant sections of Philippine fisheries legislation and participants expressed their support on future Plan implementation, in particular with regard to law enforcement, management measures such as closed season.