Oposa: Stop illegal fishing by Christmas

CEBU, Philippines – Lawyer and environmentalist Antonio Oposa is determined to wipe out illegal fishing in the province and said a successful campaign would be the Christmas gift authorities can give Cebu.

Oposa is optimistic the campaign would be successful as long as all concerned agencies of government will cooperate.

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has authorized the Visayan Sea Squadron headed by Oposa to lead the campaign against illegal fishing in the province.

Oposa said dynamite fishing is the one that has inflicted more damage to the underwater resources particularly in the areas of Daanbantayan town, the Bantayan Island and its neighboring islets.

He said they have already identified several violators who reportedly come from the neighboring islands of Negros and Panay.

Oposa earlier revealed the plan to have the cases of violators of environmental laws heard at sea when the Supreme Court implements the so-called "Seaborne Environmental Justice" project, the offshore equivalent to the "Justice on Wheels."

The high court is also considering the seawaters of Bantayan Island and Malapascua Island as the pilot area for the project hearing reports that the area in northern Cebu is notorious of illegal fishing activities, thus, have figured in many environmental cases.

Oposa said the plan is to have the ship anchored near Malapascua Island, as the area is reportedly strategic in monitoring illegal fishing activities in Bantayan Island and Carnaza Island in Daanbantayan town.

Garcia had declared an all out war against illegal fishing within the territorial jurisdiction of the Province of Cebu .

She created last October 29 the Cebu Provincial Anti-Illegal Fishing Task Force, which will concentrate their efforts in the north where reports say that illegal commercial fishing is rampant even near the tourist destination, Malapascua Island of Daanbantayan town.

In a meeting, law enforcement agencies and public prosecutors comprising the task force vowed to eradicate illegal fishing especially in the northern part of Cebu with financial support from the provincial government.

Agencies involved are the Central Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, National Bureau of Investigation, Naval Forces Central, Philippine Coast Guard, Maritime Police, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Regional State Prosecutor, Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Cebu Provincial Police Office, Provincial Legal Officer and Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer.

The governor sent a go signal for an indiscriminate anti-illegal fishing campaign even if this crossed with those who are politically protected.

She added that she cannot just look at the rampant illegal fishing until her term ends in 2013.

Commercial fishing vessels shall be penalized in accordance with Section 86 of the Republic Act 8550, also known as Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998.

The law provides that "any commercial fishing boat captain or the three (3) highest officers of the boat who commit any of the above prohibited acts upon conviction shall be punished by a fine equivalent to the value of catch or ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00) whichever is higher, and imprisonment of six (6) months, confiscation of catch and fishing gears, and automatic revocation of license."

Prior to Garcia's declaration, some towns in southern Cebu were already active in the fight against illegal fishing.

In fact, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in region 7 awarded last month the towns of Argao, Dalaguete, Alcoy, Boljoon, Oslob, Santander and Samboan-Municipal Seaborne and Coastal Law Enforcement Southeast Cebu Cluster for being an Outstanding Bantay Dagat Group in the province.

Days after the declaration, at least two illegal fishing operators also have been arrested by authorities in Carcar and Argao, all in southern Cebu.  (FREEMAN)