MAFAR CONDUCTS SCUBANGSAMORO

The Fisheries Services of the Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR-BARMM), through the Fisheries Resource Management Division (FRMD) with the Fisheries Regulatory Law Enforcement Division (FRLED), conducted SCUBAngsamoro on September 12 in Brgy. Pura, Datu Blah Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte.

The activity aimed to collect discarded fishing gear and plastic wastes from the ocean and coastal areas, to raise public awareness of the adverse environmental effects of plastic pollution, and to include coastal communities in the clean-up efforts.

It is well known that plastic pollution harms all life on earth, including humankind, wildlife, and aquatic life. Tons of plastic are dumped into the ocean every year. Plastic doesn’t dissolve; therefore, it stays in the water and reduces the quality of the water.

Most significantly, marine life is harmed by plastic pollution. Aquatic creatures confuse plastic waste in the water for food since it also damages the marine ecosystem, which includes corals, seagrass, and mangroves.

Meanwhile, the MAFAR team has conducted a courtesy call with the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Datu Blah Sinsuat, and the LGU has expressed their support for the efforts of the ministry in protecting and conserving the marine resources and in addressing environmental issues such as water pollution.

Underwater clean-up efforts help to safeguard marine biodiversity and address challenges related to fisheries and coastal management since this is a crucial step in promoting the health and resilience of marine ecosystems as well as supporting the livelihoods of communities that rely on these resources.

In addition, the activity was successfully carried out with the assistance of MAFAR DBS, spearheaded by its MAFAR Municipal Officer, Datu Iro L. Simpal.