The Bangsamoro Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform (Mafar) began distributing one million kilos of seaweed seedlings across the province of Sulu to boost coastal livelihoods and reinforce the aquaculture sector, the Sulu office of Mafar said.
This happened despite the ongoing transition of governance of the province back to Region 9, and after Sulu fisherfolk families were given training on conservation of aquatic and marine resources of this archipelagic province.
The Mafar-Sulu office started distributing the seaweed seedlings on Sept. 29-30 in Talipao with 50,000 kilos distributed, followed by 70,000 kilos in Hadji Panglima Tahil, 50,000 kilos in Indanan, and 70,000 kilos in Kalingalan Caluang on October 3.
Similar distribution will be happening in other Bangsamoro island provinces of Basilan and Tawi-Tawi as the Bangsamoro government attempts to strengthen its seaweed industry. Sulu is part of the Basulta subregion composed of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.
Mafar said seaweed farmers in Sulu has appealed for continued government support to sustain their livelihoods after the seedling distribution.
MAFAR-Sulu Officer-in-Charge for Fisheries Ferdausia Abduhasad said the success of the program depended on responsible farming practices, urging beneficiaries to keep their seaweed farms organic to safeguard marine ecosystems and sustain long-term production.
‘We want to make sure that beneficiaries do not use fertilizers and instead practice organic management of their seaweed farms,’ Abduhasad said, adding that the expansion of seaweed production ‘not only secures steady income for coastal households but also promotes the long-term sustainability of the fisheries sector.’
Only a week prior to the seedling distribution, the fisherfolk communities from among the Sama-Bajau tribe attended a Mafar-sponsored fishery resources awareness campaign on September 24, to focus on sustainable and legal fishing practices.
‘We chose the Sama-Bajau here in Jolo to participate because most of them are fishermen, and we want to help guide them toward sustainable and legal fishing practices,’ Abduhasad said.
That week, Mafar celebrated the Sixth Fish Conservation (FishCon) Week that was observed nationwide, which centered on the importance of conserving fish and aquatic resources. This year’s celebration carries the theme ‘Pangisdaang Masagana, Sapat na Isda sa Bawat Pamilya.’