Liba-liba resurfaces in Cebu City s waters

CEBU, Philippines — The illegal mode of fishing called  Liba-liba,  or Danish seine fishing, is again being practiced in the waters of Cebu City.

Cebu City Bantay Dagat Program Director Ed Karlon Rama said that personnel of their seaborne operation meant to regularly check the city s waters for illegal fishing activities spotted last Thursday a small boat engaged in illegal fishing.

When approached, the boat evaded capture by crossing into the waters of neighboring Talisay City, where Cebu City authorities have no jurisdiction.

Rama admitted that the absence of officially deputized fish wardens who must be designated and trained by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has hindered arrests.

 Sige tag patrol pero dili ta kadakop because wala pa tay fish wardens. Kay ang fish wardens e-designate mana siya sa BFAR unya since bag-o ko nga program director wala pa naka hold og deputization training si BFAR so wala pa tay kaugalingong fish wardens nga makadakop,  Rama said.

In response to the growing threat, the Bantay Dagat Commission passed a resolution urging the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to establish a makeshift detachment between Talisay and Cebu City by stationing personnel under Coast Guard District Central Visayas (CDGCV), at the Cebu City Bantay Dagat Forward Operating Base.

The personnel would help conduct regular patrols against illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing (IUUF) in Cebu City's municipal waters.

 Ang PCG maoy naay exclusive nga jurisdiction sa dagat, shared with the local government uni (LGU), now since si LGU admittedly wala pa man tay warden so atong mabuhat ra gyud is to patrol ra gyud, dili ta ka apprehend but with coastguard maka apprehend na sila,  Rama said.

the Danish Seine, also known as 'Liba liba', is a fishing method using a cone-shaped net with wings. It's attached to a rope with items like buri, plastic strips, or weights to scare or guide fish. These gears are operated either mechanically through winches or manually by fishermen.

Using this method harms marine habitats and fishery resources and violates Section 92 of Republic Act 8550 (Philippine Fisheries Code), which forbids using fishing gear that damages coral reefs, seagrass beds, and other important marine habitats for fish.

Rama said the reemergence of its use has caused significant concern among local fisherfolk, who depend on sustainable fishing practices for their livelihood.

Rama said that Cebu City fisherfolks do not engage in the Danish Seine fishing method.

 Walay liba-liba in Cebu City because we have done our socioeconomic demographics survey sa atong eleven of existing coastal barangays nga naay fisherfolks community. Ato na silang gina-monitor, we work closely with them even before,  he said.

He suspected that the fishermen spotted by Bantay Dagat came from neighboring cities and had ventured into Cebu City's municipal waters just for illegal fishing purposes.

He said that thriving fishing methods used by Cebu City fishermen only have limits on gathering shells, fish pens, fish traps, and fish lines. There is no use of hook and line or net fishing like casting nets.

Rama said this issue is crucial in addressing illegal fishing in the city, particularly with the return of goldstripe sardinella, or "mangsi," to the reefs and municipal waters of Cebu City.

 Nindot na sila nga nibalik kay makatabang man sa atong fisherfolks ug makakuha na sila para baligya or pangaon. Pero sustainable na siya kay di mana siya mahurot so manganak napud na siya. Mo replenish ra iyang population ba,  Rama shared.

Moreover, the organization does not prohibit other fishermen in neighboring cities as long as illegal fishing or liba-liba is refrained.

 The sea is meant to be shared but it's not meant to be destroyed. So, we can share the sea and its bounty but so long that we don t destroy it. (CEBU NEWS)