BFAR mulls redeployment of patrol boats off Batanes

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines – The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) is considering redeploying patrol boats along the Batanes coast amid reports of continued poaching by Taiwanese fishermen.

“It is not easy to deploy patrol boats in the area now since we are already experiencing typhoons. Besides, we don’t have a seaport there. But we will redeploy our patrol boats (if the situation warrants),” Jovita Ayson, BFAR director for Cagayan Valley, said.

Another Taiwanese vessel was reportedly sighted off Batanes, particularly in the coastlines of Ali Island in the northernmost town of Itbayat.

The island town is nearer to Taiwan’s Kaohsiung City than Luzon. The city is where the Taiwanese fisherman killed in last May’s Balintang Channel shooting incident involving Coast Guard operatives, hailed from.

The latest intrusion of a Taiwanese boat, which a fisherman has videotaped, came as authorities have yet to disclose its findings on the Balintang channel incident.

Reports said a Taiwanese vessel, a blue fishing boat, was seen fishing in the waters off Batanes, staying there for two days.

The May 9 shooting incident in Balintang Channel has strained relations between the Philippines and Taiwan. Taiwan claimed the death of their national was a case of murder, disputing local authorities’ claims that its Coast Guards merely acted in self-defense when the foreign vessel was about to ram them.

The BFAR in the region earlier said Taiwanese vessels were seen in the area even during the probe on the Balintang incident.

Ayson said the Taiwanese fishermen even fired flare guns to “possibly discourage” law enforcement officials from pursuing them.