CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Provincial Board is expected to conduct a public hearing this Friday on the proposed ordinance that provides stiffer penalties for those arrested for engaging in illegal fishing and other related activities, as well as tackle comprehensive protection of marine resources in the province.
Sponsored by Cebu sixth district Provincial Board Member Thadeo Ouano, the said ordinance, entitled “An Ordinance protecting, conserving and preserving the marine and aquatic resources and providing mechanisms to enforce coastal and fishery laws in the Province of Cebu”, shall be known as “Marine and Aquatic Resources Protection Ordinance (MARPRO).
“Kusganon gyud na natong gi-implementar ang illegal fishing. In fact, daghan na kitang nadakpan,” said Ouano who is the committee chairman on environment and natural resources at the Provincial Board.
“It is our duty to protect our environment especially our marine resources and our ecosystem,” Ouano said.
The said ordinance seeks to ensure the rational and sustainable development, management and conservation of marine and aquatic resources in the province as well as to protect the rights of the fisherfolks, fish farmers, their families and communities and the general public.
The proposed ordinance also aims to establish the Cebu Provincial Anti-Illegal Fishing Task Force (CPAIFTF) and the establishment of the Cebu Provincial Marine and Aquatic Resources Adjudication Board.
The proposed ordinance provides a penalty of P5,000 fine for various illegal fishing activities as well as confiscation of equipment/accessories used in engaging such activity as well as confiscation of the illegally caught fish or fishery species.
Violators who failed to pay the amount, have an option to render community service.
The proposed measure further declares that it shall be unlawful to engage in fishing in municipal waters within the province’s jurisdiction using active fishing gear as well as methods that destroy coral reefs, seagrass beds and other fishery and marine life habitat.
Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has already issued an Executive Order no. 21 Creating the Cebu Provincial Anti-Illegal Fishing Task Force, as it recognizes the need for the province to take an active role in coordinating all efforts in the enforcement of all anti-illegal fishing laws, specifically the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998 and other related programs and activities of the government.
The EO recognizes that it is the policy of the State, in order to achieve food security for its people, to ensure a rational sustainable development, management and conservation of its fishery and aquatic resources.
“Said policy, however, has been seriously threatened by the proliferation of illegal and destructible methods of fishing and utilization of the fishery and aquatic resources in the province which has now reached an alarming stage,” the EO read.
The EO added that said situation is mainly cause by the absence and/or lack of coordination and cooperation among the maritime laws enforcement agencies of the government and officials of the affected local government units in the province. (FREEMAN)