Small fisher leaders from coastal towns and cities of Negros Occidental province were able to obtain the support of Gov. Eugenio Jose “Bong” Lacson on several pressing issues affecting the sector during a dialogue last week. The newly-organized Panay-Negros-Guimaras Crab Fishers Alliance (PANEG-CA) and the Negros Occidental Small Fishers Alliance (NOFSFA) called on Lacson to address illegal fishing on local waters, small fishers’ poverty and lack of livelihoods for coastal communities, the need for protection and development of the blue swimming crabs (BSC) industry, the intrusion of illegal marine and black sand mining in coastal areas, lack of fishers participation in local governance especially in fisheries and aquatic resource management councils (FARMCs), and the dire effects of climatic changes in coastal areas.

Aghon, H. (2023, December 5). Small fishers get NegOcc guv's nod on vital issues. Panay News, p. 4.