𝐎𝐏𝐀 𝐅𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐬 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐍𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐬, 𝐀𝐤𝐥𝐚𝐧

NABAS, Aklan — The Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) of Nabas successfully conducted a Participatory Coastal Resource Assessment (PCRA) from June 29 to July 1, 2026, covering all 11 coastal barangays of the municipality. The activity was initiated by the MAO in partnership with the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) of Aklan, through its Fisheries Division, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (DENR-PENRO Aklan).

The three-day assessment brought together representatives from the Municipal Government of Nabas (MAO, MPDC, MENRO, MTO), coastal Barangay Councils, fisherfolk, Bantay Dagat Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council to generate updated information on the municipality’s coastal and marine resources. Through a participatory approach, local stakeholders shared their knowledge and experiences to help document the condition of coastal habitats, fisheries resources, resource use, and key environmental concerns affecting their communities.

The Participatory Coastal Resource Assessment serves as a vital tool in evaluating the current state of the municipality’s coastal ecosystems and identifying management priorities. The findings will provide a scientific and community-based foundation for strengthening Nabas’ Coastal Resource Management (CRM) Program and for enhancing local policies, plans, and interventions that promote sustainable fisheries and marine biodiversity conservation.

Complementing the assessment, a Socio-Economic Survey was conducted among fisheries stakeholders across the coastal barangays. The survey gathered information on household livelihoods, fishing practices, resource dependence, income sources, and the socio-economic conditions of fishing communities. The results will help ensure that future coastal resource management initiatives are responsive not only to ecological concerns but also to the needs and welfare of local fisheries stakeholders.

The initiative highlights the importance of collaboration among national government agencies, the provincial government, the municipal government, and coastal communities in promoting sustainable management of marine and coastal resources. It also underscores the value of community participation in generating reliable baseline information that will support evidence-based planning and decision-making.
The data gathered from both the Participatory Coastal Resource Assessment and the socio-economic survey will be consolidated and analyzed to guide the updating of the Municipality of Nabas’ Coastal Resource Management Plan and the development of future fisheries and environmental management programs.

The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist extends its sincere appreciation to the Municipal Government of Nabas, headed by Municipal Mayor  James V. Solanoy, for its unwavering support in the successful implementation of the Participatory Coastal Resource Assessment. Special recognition is likewise given to Municipal Agriculturist Mary Ann Janoya , together with Fisheries Extension Officer Hans Talapian and Peace Corps Volunteer Leonna Veng, in facilitating the activity. The OPA–Fisheries Extension and Regulatory Division (FERD) team, led by Grace-an Perlas, with Dawn So, Regine Zaballero, Peace Corps Volunteer Owen Fergusson, and the On-the-Job Trainees from the University of the Philippines Visayas, also played a vital role in providing technical assistance and ensuring the successful conduct of the assessment, together with the valuable technical support of Mark Gem of DENR-PENRO Aklan.

The Office likewise expresses its gratitude to all barangay officials, fisherfolk, people’s organizations, community volunteers, and partner agencies whose active participation and collaboration contributed to the achievement of this important initiative toward sustainable fisheries and coastal resource management in Aklan.