ILLEGAL fishing and degradation of marine habitat concerns took the spotlight in a gathering of government personnel and stakeholders organized by the provincial government of Bohol (PGBh).
Coastal town mayors, law enforcers, government agencies, people’s organizations and Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (MFARMC) members convened at the Panda Tea Garden Suites, Tagbilaran City last Sept. 8 to address the twin concerns.
Spearheaded by the PGBh through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, the Department of Agriculture and the Bureau of Fishery and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), the participants were also oriented on Republic Act No. 10654 otherwise known as the Philippine Fisheries Code.
During the lecture and consultative meeting, the lectures consultations tackled existing laws concerning marine resource management and recurring issues such as illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, trespassing on municipal waters, marine habitat destruction and dwindling supply of fish.
Engr. Ricardo Oblena, PGBh executive assistant for agriculture, and assistant provincial agriculturist Larry Pamugas welcomed the participants and expounded the purpose of the gathering respectively.
The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist said the event provided a platform for dialogue between coastal municipalities and fisherfolk to find common leading to improved outcome for communities particularly in confronting illegal fishing in municipal waters.
Lawyer Kim Labasan of BFAR Region 7 legal unit discussed RA 10654, also known as “An Act to Prevent, Deter, and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing, Amending 8550” and challenged the attendees to identify issues in their towns and what they can do to address.
Nunila Pinat, PGBh executive assistant for fisheries, presented issues commonly found in coastal areas, namely declining aqua marine population, marine ecosystem destruction (seagrass and mangrove coral reefs), overfishing, wastewater pollution, frail coastal law enforcement, and uncontrolled prices of aquatic products.
After this, Alfeo Piloton, also PGBh executive assistant for fisheries, discussed proposed ordinances on the establishment of mariculture zones and harmonization of existing ordinances.
This is part of the Strategic Change Agenda on Environmental Sustainability and Climate-smart Agriculture being implemented during the term of Gov. Aris Aumentado.
During the open forum moderated by Johann Friedrich Tejada, fishing regulations officer II of the Provincial Fisheries Office, participants were given the chance to ask questions regarding proper implementation of coastal law enforcement, programs or projects to address recurring issues of soaring prices of fish and dwindling resources. (PIMO/GMC)
