Proposed amendments to fisheries code bucked

MANILA, Philippines - The commercial fishing industry is opposing the proposed amendments to the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998, saying its regulations are “too oppressive and confiscatory.”

In a statement issued over the weekend, the Alliance of Philippine Fishing Federations Inc., composed of operators of commercial fishing vessels, said the proposed amendments force operators of commercial vessels to invest in monitoring equipment that are expensive to procure and maintain.

The proposed amendments to the country’s fisheries law is set for deliberation tomorrow by the Bicameral Committee on Agriculture.

The bill containing the proposed amendments is a consolidation of House Bill 04536 and Senate Bill 2414.

“The proposed amendments will punish environment-friendly fishing companies in the Philippines,” said the group.

The group said while fishermen caught using dynamite and cyanide face an administrative penalty equivalent to only three times the value of their catch, commercial fishing companies suspected of violating the fisheries code would face penalties equivalent to seven times the value of their catch.

“Worse, vessel owners could face imprisonment even for acts they did not personally commit,” said the group.

Under the present law, only the vessel captain, chief engineer and master fisherman may be held liable for violations.

The group is also opposing a requirement for fishing vessels to install vessel monitoring devices, which cost over P240,000 and over P20,000 a month to maintain.

“Fishing vessels will also be required to host onboard fisheries observers, whose salaries will be paid for by the owners of the vessels they are monitoring,” said the group.

It said the proposed amendments impose laws that do not fit the local fishing industry.