Fishing vessels monitoring rules sought

MANILA, Philippines — Local government units continue to appeal to the Department of Agriculture to implement a vessel monitoring mechanism to deter illegal entry of commercial vessels in municipal waters.

Under the Amended Fisheries Code, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources must implement a vessel monitoring measure that involves installing a tracking device on all commercial fishing boats so that their movement can be monitored.

This is a requirement of the law that has been delayed over the last five years.

The LGUs of Bantayan and San Remigio in Cebu and San Carlos, Escalante, Sagay, Cadiz, Calatrava, Toboso and Manapla in Negros Occidental appeal to the DA-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources to immediately issue the implementing rules of the fishing vessels monitoring mechanism.

In their resolution, the LGUs said continuous intrusion of commercial fishing vessels results in overexploitation of fisheries and aquatic resources that has direct adverse effects to their constituents, especially the fisherfolk communities of their towns.

They called on BFAR to address the pressing issues on illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and ensure transparency in the fishing industry.

“We cannot allow illegal entry of commercial fishers in municipal waters. It is even more unacceptable that commercial fishing operators take advantage of the situation as our attention is directed at this COVID19 pandemic, trying to keep our constituents healthy and spared from the spread of this virus. The immediate implementation of the rules on vessel monitoring measures is most needed,” they said.