ILOILO City — A major science-driven conservation campaign aimed at protecting endangered marine mammals and critical coastal habitats in Western Visayas and Negros has been launched through a landmark partnership between the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) and the University of St. La Salle (USLS) in Bacolod City.
The partnership, formalized during the Fisheries Management Area (FMA) 11 Summit in Iloilo City on May 13, seeks to strengthen marine mammal protection efforts in Panay, Guimaras, and Negros through scientific research, coordinated rescue operations, habitat protection, and community-based conservation programs.
At the center of the initiative is the planned Irrawaddy dolphin population estimate survey, a critical scientific undertaking expected to guide future conservation policies and fisheries management programs in the region.
“The conduct of the Irrawaddy dolphin population estimate survey is a significant undertaking that will provide valuable scientific data necessary for policy formulation, fisheries management, and conservation planning,” said Dr. Romeo Teruel, vice chancellor for Research and Engagement of USLS.
The agreement was signed by DA-BFAR 6 director Remia Aparri, DA-BFAR Negros Island Region director Rene Parreño, and Teruel during the summit attended by fisheries and environmental stakeholders from across the Visayas.
FMA 11 covers the provinces of Capiz, Cebu, Guimaras, Iloilo, Masbate, Negros Occidental, and Negros Oriental, highlighting the wide geographical scope of the conservation initiative.
Under the memorandum of agreement, the agencies and the university committed to establishing coordinated marine mammal stranding response mechanisms, conducting necropsies to determine causes of death and health conditions of stranded animals, and implementing capacity-building activities to strengthen local conservation expertise.
The partnership also seeks to increase grassroots participation in marine conservation by equipping coastal communities with scientific knowledge and environmental awareness programs aimed at preserving marine biodiversity.
Aparri said the collaboration demonstrates the importance of interdisciplinary partnerships in addressing environmental challenges.
“This partnership demonstrates how government agencies and higher education institutions can collaborate to address the complexities of environmental concerns through interdisciplinary action,” Aparri said.
The initiative is also seen as part of broader efforts to address concerns related to the United States’ Marine Mammal Protection Act and the List of Foreign Fisheries monitored by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries.
Officials said the partnership aims to build long-term conservation strategies that combine scientific research, institutional cooperation, and active community participation to ensure the survival of marine mammals and the protection of fragile marine ecosystems in the Visayas./PN
