Mandaue’s proposed fishery code okayed on first reading

CEBU, Philippines - Mandaue City Councilor Jimmy Lumapas has authored a proposed ordinance which creates the “Local Fishery Code of Mandaue City.”

The draft ordinance is entitled “Providing for the Development, Management, Conservation of the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Mandaue City.

Explanatory note of the draft states that due to lack of coordination and cooperation among maritime law enforcement agencies of the government and officials of affected barangays in the City of Mandaue, such policy has been seriously threatened by the proliferation of illegal and destructive methods of fishing and utilization of the fishery and aquatic resources in the City of Mandaue which has now reached an alarming stage.    

Lumapas said there is an urgent need to come up with this measure and to make it more extraordinarily responsive to the needs of the fishery industry.  

He said he was prompted to come up with such ordinance after he noticed that fish cages have proliferated at  the Cansaga bay which is located along Mandaue city and Consolacion town.

Lumapas said Cansaga bay is considered as a good breeding ground for fishes and corals due to its brackish water.

“Anugon kaayo imbes nga ang mga isda mangitlog ug mo-produce og daghan dili na hinuon kadaghan ug makatubo tungod sa nagpasad na nga mga fish cages sa maong lugar,” Lumapas said.

He also said several small time fishermen in the area are also complaining as they have navigational difficulty when traveling towards the bay and the Mactan Channel due to the presence of these fish cages.

Once the fishery code ordinance is approved by the city council, the Mandaue City Anti-Illegal Fishing Task Force will be established in order to enforce the coastal fishery laws stipulated in the ordinance.

The task force will also assist law enforcement agencies in protecting the city’s territorial waters.

The local fishery code will penalize those who violate provisions stipulated in the code.

 Lumapas’ draft ordinance was approved on first reading during yesterday’s council session. — (FREEMAN)