Representatives from the Department of Agriculture-National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (DA-NFRDI), Nicko Amor Flores and Joseph Emmanuel Ricafort of the Capture Fisheries Research and Development Division (CFRDD), served as evaluators during the NSAP Caraga Midyear Technical Review held on July 22–25 in San Jose, Dinagat Islands.

The activity played a vital role in assessing the first-semester performance of NSAP Caraga, focusing on data consolidation, analysis, and reporting. It also provided a platform to evaluate fisheries monitoring efforts and research outputs, ensuring that the region’s initiatives continue to support science-based management of marine resources.

Ricafort discussed the NSAP data flow from sample collection to policy use, stressing the key role of enumerators and highlighting NFRDI efforts in capacity building, data consolidation, and database and atlas upgrades. Meanwhile, Flores shared updates on the fish guidebook, grid maps, and NSAP Module, and explained the scoring criteria for evaluating presentations.

Joining the evaluators from NFRDI were representatives from BFAR Caraga. Also present were Neco Daisy Alimento, Aquaculturist I of the Provincial Fisheries Office–Dinagat Islands, and Edgardo Balambao, OIC of Fisheries Management Regulatory and Enforcement Division (FMRED), who emphasized the sensitivity of NSAP data and the importance of such review.

NSAP Caraga Project Leader Joyce Baclayo reported progress in monitoring, technical write-ups, and workshops, as enumerators presented data from 40 landing sites across 12 fishing grounds. Feedback focused on explaining trends linked to gear changes, environmental factors, and sociopolitical drivers, along with tips for better data presentation.

The review closed with Julius Sabino, OIC of the Provincial Fisheries Office–Surigao del Sur, underscoring the importance of scientific integrity and the need for reliable data to guide sustainable fisheries management. ### (Joseph Emmanuel Ricafort)