TRAINING FOR FISHERMEN & RESOURCE PROTECTION

Bohol Fisherfolk Equipped with Disaster-resilient Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic Boat Fabrication Skills

By Mary Ruth Ochavillo. Posted on NOVEMBER 04, 2024.

Clarin, Bohol – On October 03, 2024, fourteen (14) fishers from Alburquerque, Ubay, and Tagbilaran City completed a ten-day Training on Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic (FRP) Boat Fabrication initiated through the FISH Visayas Project. Participants demonstrated their newly acquired skills by constructing seven (7) units of 26-footer FRP boats at the DA-BFAR Clarin Freshwater Fish Farm.

The training program seeks to empower fishers with skills to fabricate practical, modernized fishing vessels, like FRP boats, known for their durability, extended hull life, and reduced maintenance costs. Through hands-on sessions, participants gain valuable expertise in FRP boat-building and upkeep. Essentially, the newly fabricated boats will be used by partner people’s organizations for a variety of purposes, including fishing, bangus harvesting, monitoring Marine Protected Areas, and supporting tourism-related activities.

The trainees underwent both theoretical and practical training. The theoretical sessions covered fiberglass properties, safety procedures, and the environmental and economic advantages of using fiberglass over traditional materials. The practical sessions included mold preparation, resin application, laminating, and finishing techniques.

Participants included members from the FISH Visayas Project partner organizations in Bohol, such as the Western Unified Fisherfolk Association (WUFA), Eastern Poblacion Fisherfolk Association (EPFA), Sta. Felomina Fisherman Association (SFFA), Ubujan Fishermen’s Association (UFA), Barangay Guintaboan Fisherfolk Association (BGFA), Cagting Small Farmers and Fishers Association (CSFFA), and Cuya Farmers and Fisherman Association (CUFFA).

The training was primarily facilitated by the DA-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) Clarin Freshwater Fish Farm, with five technical experts leading the sessions: Mr. Angelito Pinoliad, Mr. Edmund Mellorida, Mr. Christopher Banaez, Mr. Bryan Alcala, and Mr. Christian Menguito. Support for the activity was also provided by the local government units of Alburquerque, Tagbilaran City Government, Municipality of Ubay, the Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the AFOS Foundation.

The newly constructed FRP boats are scheduled for turn-over on the first week of November 2024, marking a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to modernize and support the fishing industry in Bohol.
The Training on Fiber-Reinforced Plastic (FRP) Boat Fabrication aspires to achieve Result Area 1: Training for Fishermen and MSMEs and Result Area 4: Resource Protection of the FISH Visayas Project.

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