SOCSKSARGEN Federation of Fishing and Allied Industries, Inc. (SFFAII) attended the Training-Workshop for Municipal and Small-Scale Commercial Fisheries, organized by USAID Oceans last August 15, 2018 at Greenleaf Pavilion, Greenleaf Hotel, General Santos City. The activity aimed to orient the municipal and small-scale commercial fisheries on FAME Technology and to conduct a workshop on how to process and apply for a simplified catch documentation.
The training-workshop was attended by municipal tuna handline operators from Sarangani Province and General Santos City, small scale commercial fishing operators, Provincial Government of Sarangani, Local Government Unit of General Santos City, and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Region 12 (BFAR 12).
USAID Oceans in partnership with the Futuristic Aviation and Maritime Enterprise, Inc. (FAME) is pilot testing a catch documentation and traceability system for municipal and small scale commercial fishery using FAME technology. The partnership aimed to leverage technology to improve the catch documentation and traceability of fish catch in small-scale fisheries.
The FAME technology was presented by Arcelio J. Fetizanan, Jr., CEO of Futuristic Aviation and Maritime Enterprise, Inc. or FAME. He highlighted how the FAME transponder with NFC reader can facilitate tracking of the fishing vessel at sea and, at the same time, document their fish catch.
Ian Medel Lipio, from BFAR 12, presented the Simplified Catch Reporting for Municipal and Small-Scale Commercial Fisheries in accordance to BFAR FAO 238 or “Rules and Regulations Governing the Implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No. 1005/2008 on the Catch Certification Scheme”. He pointed out that they simplified the logsheet in order to help fishermen meet the minimum requirements for Catch Certification Scheme.
The event also had open forum which discussed relevant issues and concerns in the Handline Fishery sector. USAID Oceans facilitated the discussion and took important notes in the said concerns.
