Solons want 'illegal fishing' in PHL waters probed

Two lawmakers from Mindanao are seeking a congressional investigation into illegal fishing that is supposedly widespread in the Philippines, particularly why government agencies seemed unable to enforce fishing laws. 

 

In House Resolution 1926, Abante Mindanao party-list Rep. Maximo B. Rodriguez Jr. and Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez called on the House committee on aquaculture and fisheries to investigate the purported failure of concerned government agencies to implement fishing laws – which result in rampant illegal fishing.

 

Among the resource persons they want to invite are officials from the Department of Agriculture (DA), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and the Alliance of Tuna Handliners.

 

Despite the passage of an amendment to the Fisheries Code of the Philippines providing for higher penalties for illegal fishing, violators operate in Philippine waters, the lawmakers noted.

 

“Tuna fishermen from General Santos City are still denouncing the government’s failure to curb the illegal fishing which continues to threaten the sustainability of the local tuna fishing industry,” they said.

 

In particular, the lawmakers lamented over government’s failure to implement DA Executive Order 154, or the National Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing that called for the creation of a multi-agency to stop illegal fishing.

 

“EO 154 remains to be an order and there are many fishermen who are still unlicensed with BFAR and there is lack of rules and regulations to address the problem,” they said.

 

The Fisheries Administrative Order 226 is another law that the government has failed to implement, the lawmakers noted. 

 

The order prohibits trading in juvenile tuna that weighs below 500 grams, but it remains largely ignored due to poor enforcement at the local level.

 

The Handline Fishing Law of 2007 is also poorly enforced, the lawmakers noted.
 

 

 

IRR Drafting Committee

 

Last week, BFAR national director Asis Perez lauded the passage of amendments to the Fisheries Code and reiterated the bureau's commitment to phase out illegal fishing.

 

“The government is putting in place changes that are necessary to help the fisheries sector move forward. The law is re-echoing our goal to eradicate all forms of unsustainable resource use as these compromise not only the environment but also the long-term livelihood and employment of around 1.8 million fisheries stakeholders,” he said.

 

According to Perez, a committee is convening to formulate the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Fisheries Code.

 

The IRR Drafting Committee is composed of 18 representatives from the fisheries sector: nine from the government, two from the academe, and two from non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

 

Among the issues the IRR will addressed are the stiffer fines and penalties for serious violations and the mandatory installation of a vessel monitoring system or VMS on all domestic fishing boats. – Xianne Arcangel/VS, GMA News