The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Region 02 has recently called for a meeting primarily to formulate plans and strategies for the conservation of endemic freshwater fish species.

BFAR RO2 Regional Director Dr. Jovita Ayson said that while the bureau promotes the culture of various fish species, “we also need to protect endemic species which are of high economic value but are now endangered.”

The meeting was attended by representatives from Provincial Agriculture Offices and state universities and colleges as well as concerned staff of the bureau.

Identified during the meeting were various endemic species in Region 02 which were categorized as endangered, of high economic importance and both.

From the several species identified, the group has set paltat (English name Native Catfish, scientific name Channa striata); gurami (Snake-skinned Gourami, Trichogaster pectoralis); igat / sihin (Eel, Anguilla japonica and Anguilla marmorata); mori (Goby, Glossogobius sp); ludong (Mullet, Cestraeus sp.); bisukul (Native snail, Viviparus spp.); cabibi (Freshwater clam, Batissa violacea); and udang / ulang / payang (Giant freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii), as priority species for conservation.

According to Dr. Evelyn Ame, resource management head of BFAR RO2, the group will prepare a master proposal, with the provisional title “ABC (Aquaculture, Biology and Conservation) of Endemic Species in Cagayan Valley”, for the conservation of said priority species.

To be included in the proposal are sub-studies on taxonomy, ecology, biology, and socio-economic and marketing aspect. Development of culture technologies for goby species will also be included.

The proposal will be submitted to National Fisheries Research and Development Institute for funding. The group has tapped Dr. Ralph Turingan, professor and chairman of the Marine Biology Program of Florida Institute of Technology in Florida, USA, to assist in said 5-year conservation program.