BANGUED, Abra(PIA) - - The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources  will soon     carry out a project   to boost the production and protection of indigenous fish species in the province.  

 The Fisheries and Coastal Resiliency (FishCORE) project is a World Bank- assisted project under the Department of Agriculture and to be implemented by BFAR,  that is  aimed  to improve management of fishery resources and enhance value of fisheries production  in identified Fish Management Areas (FMAs).  

In the Cordillera region, only the province of Abra is included in the seven-year project that is expected to commence next year, BFAR-Cprdillera Assistant Regional Director Lois Fermin said.

Earmarked for the region is P128.8 million for fisheries and resource planning and management, production and livelihood, research and development on breeding, capacitating the local government units, stakeholders and fisherfolks, among others

The project covers the municipalities of Bangued, Bucay, Dolores, Lagangilang, Langiden, Lagayan, La Paz, Luba, Tayum, Pidigan, Sallapadan, San Juan, San Quintin, Tineg, Tubo, and Villaviciosa.

Fermin said Abra is rich in indigenous fish species which need to be protected and preserved even as these are used for livelihood purposes.

 Among the identified indigenous species found in the area are the “bunog” or Goby, “igat” or eel, “Ludong” or Lobed River Mullet, “Aguning” or Jungle Perch, and Udang or fish water prawn.

 The “Ludong” sells at P5, 000.00 to P6, 000 per kilo. Bunog is also being processed among fisherfolk and sells around P600 to P600 for export abroad.  Aguning is a rare specie believed to be found only in Abra, according to Fermin.

BFAR-CAR pushed for the inclusion of Abra’s indigenous fish resources which thrive  in fresh water as these are already being endangered, (JDP/SCA-PIA-CAR, Abra)