A Filipino scientist said the country can achieve self-sufficiency for fish and marine products if it implements strategies and programs to increase biomass in the seas. Angel Alcala PhD, a former environment secretary with a scientist rank, told The Manila Times the country need not import marine products if the government, particularly the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), implements “methods or strategies that will increase the biomass of the fish through setting up certain limits on fishing.” Biomass is the mass of living biological organisms in a given area or ecosystem at a given time. It can include microorganisms, plants or animals.

Gomez, E. J. (2018, September 13). Fish Biomass seen as solution to cut imports. The Manila Times, p. B5.