BFAR exec on fishing policy: Same rules, stricter implementation

Amid fish traders' protest on Thursday over what they consider as a "fishing ban," a Fishery official said the rule has not been changed on the ban, only its implementation – this time stricter than it used to be.

In an interview on "News To Go," Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Director Asis Perez said the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the R.A. 8550 or the Fisheries Code of 1998, is not at all different from the ammended law.

The only difference is the increased penalty for violators, he added.

“Napakaliit kasi ng unang parusa diyan. P10,000 lamang kahit na gaano karami ang nahuli mo. Meron tayong mga barko na humuhuli ng daan-daang tonelada tapos kapag nahuli, ang baba ng multa. Katiting lang 'yung sa kanialng na-violate. Itinama lang ng batas ang mga parusa,” Asis said.

Traders at Markets 3, 4, and 5 of the Navotas Fish Port on Thursday pushed through with their plan to stop selling fish for the whole day, to protest the implementation of a "fishing ban," particularly its ban on fishing in municipal waters, by virtue or the amended Fisheries Code.

Based on the protesters' estimates, some 100 tons of fish catch from Zamboanga in Mindanao, Palawan, and Masbate would not be distributed to various fish terminals in different parts of Luzon.

Meanwhile, Perez insisted same old rules hold, commercial fishing vessels are still prohibited to fish in municipal waters to give way to proper fish distribution among fishermen.

Moreover, her said destructive fishing in all of the Philippine waters, such as the use of explosive devices, is still considered illegal under the law, adding that same rules and regulations apply on fishing in Manila Bay.

According to Asis, “Ang hindi lang pwedeng mangisda sa Manila Bay ay 'yung ipinagbabawal ng batas na dati nang ipinagbabawal. Walang nagbago. Yung sinasabing may ban sa Manila Bay, hindi totoo yun."

"Sa Manila Bay, may mga lugar pa na bukas sa commercial fishing. Doon lang dapat sila pupuwesto at huwag silang papasok sa dati nang ipinagbabawal ng batas,” he added.

Dialogue with fishermen

Perez claimed that the BFAR had a dialogue with about 800 fishermen from Navotas three weeks ago.

Part of the negotiation was the offer of the government to be of assistance to the fishermen who might be affected by the stricter implementation of the law.

“Nag-offer ang pamahalaan ng tulong sa mga maaapektuhan ng mahigpit na pagpapatupad ng batas na puwedeng magbago ng pamamalakaya. Kaya nagtataka ako kung bakit mayroon silang ganitong move ngayon na tinatawag nilang “Fish Holiday,” he said.

He emphasized that the amendment to the law "has been an overdue request" from most fishermen in the country, especially small fishermen.

Also, he said that aside from protecting small-scale fishermen, the ultimate objective of the law is to ensure equal distribution of fish among fishermen, both commercial and municipal.

According to Asis, “Itong batas na ito ay hinihiling na ng karamihang mangingisda sapagkat mas marami ang apektado doon sa paglabag. Kung mayroong 1,000 mangingisda, mga 100 lang ang lumalabag. Kawawa naman yung 900 na hindi lumalabag.”

“Kapag sinamahan mo ng commercial 'yun, mauubos ang mga isda. Iilan lang ang makikinabang sa pangisdaan at mawawalan 'yung mga maliliit na mangingisda. Ang ultimate objective ay magkaroon ng tamang distribution ng isda,” he added. — Bianca Rose Dabu/LBG, GMA News