A 62-footer fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) tuna handline fishing boat worth PHP6.8 million was given to fishermen from Currimao, Ilocos Norte on Thursday to boost livelihood of small-scale fishermen.

Municipal agriculturist Erickson Biag told the Philippine News Agency that the fishing boat, which was donated by the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR), has six units of 15-footer FRP catcher boat.

He said the modern fishing boat can go beyond 15 kilometers from the shores of Currimao town to catch tuna and salmon, among others.

“In-season tuna are available on the third and fourth quarter of every year,” he said, as he expressed gratitude for BFAR’s early Christmas gift to the town’s fisherfolk.

In a separate interview, Mariano Garcia, president of the Barangay Victoria Fishermen’s Association Inc., said delivery of the fishing boat is a “dream come true” as they have been longing to use it since it was pledged to them by BFAR last year.

As part of upgrading and capacitating local fishermen to improve fish production, BFAR has been distributing bigger and better-equipped fishing boats to qualified fishermen organizations.

Before the delivery of the modernized fishing vessel, the recipients underwent training on cooperative development and management to ensure that they were ready and equipped with appropriate knowledge and skills to achieve the program’s main goal of food security. (PNA)