Western Visayas is stepping up efforts to protect marine mammals and sharks — a move seen as vital not only for biodiversity but also for the survival of the region’s fisheries and seafood export industry. The Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) Region 6, through its Regional Technical Working Group on Marine Mammals and Sharks Protection and Conservation (RTWG-MMSPC), convened a landmark capacity-building workshop on October 22–23, 2025, bringing together scientists, conservationists, and local government representatives to address the growing threats to marine wildlife within Fisheries Management Area (FMA) 11.

Defacto, L. C. (2025, November 7). Marine protection now tied to market survival: Region 6 pushes bold plan to save fisheries. Panay News, pp. 2, 15.