Resource conservation expert of the fisheries bureau escorted Her Excellency, Laure Beaufils, United Kingdom Ambassador to the Philippines in visiting existing freshwater sanctuaries under the Freshwater Conservation (Karayan Ket Biag) Project in the Northern Philippines in Baggao, Cagayan last February 18, 2025.

The Freshwater Conservation (Karayan Ket Biag) is a collaborative project of Zoological Society of London (ZSL), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources – Region 02 and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Region 02 which aims to establish a coherent network of 13 community-managed freshwater fish sanctuaries along Pared River Catchment area.

The establishment of fish sanctuary is one of the best ways to conserve freshwater resources in areas away from detrimental human activities such as over-exploitation of resources. These will create a good habitat and breeding grounds for native fishes and will pave a way in mitigating threats and creating a balance ecosystem for better management of freshwater resources. At present, three freshwater protected area were already established in Baggao namely Bluewater Falls Eel Sanctuary, Duba Cave Freshwater Fish Sanctuary and Hotspring Freshwater Fish Sanctuary located in barangay Pallagao, San Miguel and Asinga-via, respectively.

The Ambassador was accompanied by Alejandro Belen, ZSL Project Manager of Freshwater Conservation Project and Atty. Arsenio Banares, Chief – FMRED, particularly visited Bluewater Falls Eel Sanctuary, an established freshwater protected area in 2019 in Pallagao, Baggao. A briefing regarding the progress of project implementation with Zelda Vasquez, DENR-CENRO, LGU Officials and fisherfolks was conducted during the visit. (A. Cristobal, FMRED/ZSL-PROCA Staff)