Making Visayan Sea protected area to take time

CEBU, Philippines - While commendable, what four governors want to happen to protect the Visayan Sea, which the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources describes as “on the brink of collapse”, will take time.

“Ato usab tan-awon kung kinsa ang maapektuhan. Unsay mabuhat sa BFAR ug sa gobyerno. Maayo man ang plano pero tan-awon sab nato daan kung naa bay ma-dislocate,” said BFAR-7 Director Andres Bojos yesterday.

Aside from this, information dissemination and education among people in areas that would be affected should also be taken into account.

Last Friday, Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III who was represented by Ricardo Lachica and three other governors in Visayas, Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. of Negros Occidental, Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. of Iloilo, Rizalina Seachon-Lanete of Masbate, signed a resolution to this effect during the 6th Visayan Sea Summit at Museo Sang Bata in Sagay City, Negros.

The resolution calls on President Benigno Aquino III to declare the waters beyond the 15-kilometer radius of the municipalities and cities surrounding the Visayan Sea as marine protected.

The resolution also seeks to ban commercial fishing vessels from encroaching in the municipal waters covered by the declaration so as to protect small and marginal fishing communities.

Retired navy captain Romeo Tapayan who heads the Cebu Provincial Anti-Illegal Fishing Task Force assured intensified enforcement of the ban once Aquino grants it. He said the declaration would strengthen the province’s thrust to curb illegal fishing and, in effect, benefit local fisher folk.

Tapayan also called on local government units to support the province.

“Magtinabangay lang ta. Maninguha gyud pud ta diri sa probinsya aron mahatagan pud og kahigayonan ang gagmay’ng mananagat,” he said.

Before the governors signed the resolution, BFAR had announced a three-month “closed season” on the catching of sardines, herrings, and mackerels at the Visayan Sea. The closure runs from November 15 this year until February 15, 2015.

The implementation of the closed season, in adherence to the Fisheries Administrative Order 167, was made to enable the said species of fish to replenish their numbers. (FREEMAN)