Samar, Biliran towns agree on 4-month moratorium on commercial fishing yearly

CALBAYOG CITY, Philippines — This city and six towns of Samar and Biliran provinces have agreed to put a stop on commercial fishing within their seas for at least four months every year.

The consensus on fishing moratorium was arrived in a meeting last Tuesday in this city, where town mayors met with City Mayor Ronald Aquino and discussed on integrated management of coastal fisheries and marine resources to gain food security and guarantee livelihood to fishermen in their communities.

“We all agreed on declaring a 4-month moratorium on commercial fishing from April to July of every year, and that would mean that only small-scale commercial fishermen will be allowed to ply their trade within the sea waters under our jurisdiction, while the moratorium is up” Mayor Aquino said.

He explained that small-scale fishing refers to 3-tonner fishing vessels and below, and the moratorium will effectively give the fishing area of these towns a chance to rest, and for its resources to thrive and multiply.

The Freeman further gathered that a common ordinance relative to the plan will be approved by the alliance and will be adopted by their respective legislative councils.

Aquino also emphasized that the deputation of respective LGU fish wardens will be signed by all members of the alliance, which in turn will authorize every warden to break the usual problem of jurisdiction especially when running after illegal fishers.

The alliance is composed of Calbayog City and the towns of Almagro, Santo Niño, Tagapu-an, Santa Margarita and Daram, of Samar, and Maripipi of Biliran.