The World Bank and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources launched a multi-billion project this week to enhance the resilience of coastal communities amid increasing climate risks.

The P11.4-billion Philippine Coastal Resiliency or FishCore Project will be implemented in Fisheries Management Areas 6 and 9, which cover 24 provinces in 11 regions in the country.

These regions are Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, National Capital Region, Cordillera Autonomous Region, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao and Caraga Region.

The seven-year project will provide multiple fisheries interventions to enhance both ecosystems and community resilience, and will benefit over 1.15 million fisherfolks, small to medium enterprises, other fisheries stakeholders, and residents in coastal communities across 11 regions and 24 provinces in the country.

The project aims to develop aquaculture and fisheries enterprises in aqua-industrial business corridors through subprojects like satellite multi-species hatcheries, offshore mariculture in climate-resilient cages, post-harvest and fish/shellfish processing, and provision of  climate-resilient technologies, among many others.

"These initiatives are set to pave the way for a sustainable and prosperous future for all stakeholders involved in the vital fisheries sector," said Hannibal Chavez, BFAR regional director in Eastern Visayas.

The project was officially unveiled on 22 September, and is slated to end on 31 December 2029.

BFAR National Director Demosthenes Escoto said FMA 6 and 9 were selected as project sites after a series of consultations based on their specific needs in fisheries management that require focused interventions.