Drive vs illegal fishing intensified

CALBAYOG CITY, Philippines - Fishermen themselves have been tapped by the city government in its campaign against illegal fishing in the city’s seawaters, the perpetrators of whom were identified to be from neighboring towns and other places.

Mayor  Ronaldo Aquino said his office has been conducting trainings and seminars among fishermen of the city about conservation of marine resources for their benefit and on how to fight illegal fishing in the area.

Aquino said his office will never hesitate to run after illegal fishers whose activities were the main cause of the depletion of the marine resource of this city and the decline of the catch of local fishermen and eventually their income.

The mayor has been reminding the fishermen of his city to run after those who violated the fishery laws and protect the seas and its resources to stop the decline of fish production in their area.

Aquino said Calbayog must regain its past glory of being one of the leading fish producing cities in eastern Visayas and a major supplier of fish to other parts of the country, such as Metro Manila.

Samar provincial fisheries Director Engineer Rolando Ay-ay meanwhile turned over a donation of a twin-engine fiberglass patrol boat for use by the  fishermen of Barangay Matobato, who have been actively participating in the fight against illegal fishing in the city.