DILG warns 20 LGUs on illegal, unregulated fishing

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has issued stern warnings to 20 local government units (LGUs) for illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing (IUUF) in municipal waters under their jurisdiction.

In a press release on Saturday, DILG Secretary Eduardo Año also reminded concerned LGUs to strengthen their enforcement of the Philippine Fisheries Code and other existing policies for the protection of coastal and fishing communities or face administrative sanctions.

Año said that 20 LGUs were warned and reminded “to exercise their mandate and responsibilities, under the Philippine Fisheries Code” and informed the local officials of the total number of the IUUF committed in their areas using satellite technology.

“Despite the pandemic, we want to remind LGUs of the protection of our aquatic resources which, unfortunately, is still an issue in the country. Para sa 20 pamahalaang lokal na ito na ating pinadalhan ng warning, mahigpit ang ating paalala na pangalagaan ang ating mga karagatan,” he said.

“IUUF can cause a serious decline in fisheries resources, and can negatively impact food security and livelihoods for coastal communities and fisherfolk kaya napakahalagang tutukan ito ng mga LGU,” he added.

According to Año, the LGUs who received warnings are the top 20 with the highest number of encroachment or violation in the use of superlight and other artificial light sources -- which is used to attract all types of fish during nighttime -- the use of which is prohibited under Section 98 of the Republic Act No. 8550, as amended by Republic Act No. 10654 or the Philippines Fisheries Code of 1998. 

The DILG was able to get the information through the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) technology, a satellite that can detect artificial light sources or superlight.

Municipal waters registering the most IUUF violation  include that of:

• Tongkil, Sulu with 2,549 total detections;
• Zamboanga City, Zamboanga Del Sur with 2,446;
• Milagros, Masbate with 1,595;
• Cawayan, Masbate with 1,350;
• San Pascual, Masbate with 1,193;
• Languyan, Tawi-tawi with 1,057;
• Calauag, Quezon with 1,009;
• Hadji Mohammad Ajul, Basilan with 973;
• Linapacan, Palawan with 959; and

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• Carles, Iloilo with 762.

Also included in the top 20 LGUs list are:

• Cuyo, Palawan;
• Santa Cruz, Marinduque;
• Madridejos, Cebu;
• Coron, Palawan;
• San Jose, Occidental Mindoro;
• Taytay, Palawan;
• Magsaysay, Palawan;
• Catbalogan City, Samar;
• Cavite City, Cavite; and
• Quezon, Quezon.

Based on the VIIRS technology boat detection report of 2020, there has been a spike in the increase of detections of commercial fishing in municipal waters amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Año said that the DILG utilizes VIIRS data which shows the LGUs where the use of these superlights are prevalent. The data, he said, is overlaid with maps that show municipal water boundaries to identify and map out the use of super lights in municipal waters or intrusions and encroachments of commercial fishing vessels in municipal waters.

Likewise,  Año urged LGUs to implement DILG Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 2018-59, which contains policies and guidelines on the regulation and monitoring of fishery activities in Municipal Waters.

He said the memo requires LGUs to regulate and monitor fisheries activities and strictly enforce the provisions of the amended Fisheries Code. —LBG, GMA News