SCIENCE-DRIVEN GOVERNANCE TAKES CENTER STAGE IN FMA 4 SAG MEETING

The Science Advisory Group (SAG) of Fisheries Management Areas (FMA) 4 steered its 3rd Regular
Meeting with the goal of developing a comprehensive and scientific approach to sustainable fisheries
management in the East Sulu Sea. The meeting was held through online conferencing last March 28,
2022, and the SAG body was able to discuss and deliberate on matters critical to the operationalization
of FMA 4.

The SAG is charged with advising the Management Board (MB) on technical concerns relevant to
fisheries resource conservation and attaining a balance of societal and ecological well-being through
effective governance. Additionally, it is important to highlight that the MB originally accepted the twelve
names that comprise the first pool of SAG members, all of whom are academic scholars and experts in
the field of fisheries and aquatic resources. It was also notable that Mr. Roberto “Ka Dodoy” Ballon
attended the meeting, his first since the Management Board’s approval of his endorsement as an
additional SAG member. Ka Dodoy is one of the 2021 Ramon Magsaysay Awardees, a coveted and
sought-after honor categorized as Asia's Nobel Prize equivalent.

Dr. Wilfredo L. Campos, the chairperson of the SAG, welcomed the attendees and formally opened the
meeting after the determination of an acceptable quorum. Mr. Christopher Ignacio, the FMA Focal
proceeded to read the agenda of the meeting. Mr. Charle Kent Lim, FMA Secretariat, presented the
highlights of the minutes of the previous SAG meeting.

The next agenda of the meeting was the presentation of the CY 2021 Annual Accomplishment Report.
Mr. Ignacio explained the activities and orientations conducted by the FMA 4 throughout Calendar Year
2021 which includes the selection of the members constituting the FMA governing bodies, the
popularization of the FMA concept, the Data Consolidation, Standardization & Analysis for FMA 4, and
the passage of fourteen (14) MB resolutions, among others. Dr. Teresita Narvaez, one of the SAG
members, applauded the team for the series of activities FMA 4 had since its inception first quarter of
last year. Mr. Glenn Boleng, the FMA Alternate Focal, tackled the FMA Scorecard for discussion and
evaluation of the body. It was established that the FMA 4 is performing fairly well considering that it was
still on its first year of implementation.

Moreover, Mr. Ignacio imparted a snippet of the Tawi-tawi and Basilan Ecosystems Approach to
Fisheries Management (EAFM) Planning Output to the group. It is important to note that the team
already started its groundwork, orienting the various fisheries stakeholders on the ground regarding the
FMA and formulating plans essential in the institutionalization of the approach.
A presentation on the BFAR CO Memorandum dated February 09, 2022, entitled “Utilizing Science-
based information in developing plans, policies, programs and strategies in Fisheries Management Areas
of the Country” ensued, where Ms. Divina B. Ignacio, NSAP Project Leader and concurrently SAG
member, expounded the data gathered and analyzed on the Top 10 marine species which is
indispensable in the establishment of the Reference Points (RPs) and Harvest Control Rules (HCRs) as
recommended by the SAG to the MB.

The SAG Chairman, Dr. Campos, led the discussion for the proposals for Research Agenda and Research
Inventory Mapping. “Let's focus first on those we think have enough, or close to enough, available and
accessible information to allow formulation of policy or management measures or actions”, Dr. Campos
stated, convincing fellow SAG members to afford thoughtful consideration of the number of important
issues and challenges that has to be resolved through the provision of knowledge, science and
information to decision-makers.

The meeting adjourned in a positive note having accomplished the vital step towards science-based,
transparent and participatory governance of FMA 4.