CAPIZ – An intensified house-to-house campaign in fishing villages is being conducted by the Provincial Bantay Dagat (PBD) to end illegal fishing activities within Pilar’s municipal waters.
The PBD, locally known as “Task Force Yuhum”, is a unit organized to defend the livelihood of fishermen from illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activities.
“There is a need for a deeper understanding for those who engage in destructive fishing methods,” said Capiz Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (CaPENRO) consultant Glenn Beup.
The intensified diplomatic approach by sea patrollers has already significantly reduced dynamite and trawl fishing in the area, he added.
Trawl fishing is prohibited. It uses fine mesh nets which catch even fingerlings.
Task Force Yuhum also nabbed commercial fishing boat operators encroaching on municipal waters.
Beup added that fishing along Pilar as well as in the territorial waters of Roxas City and other coastal municipalities in the province has become compensating as fish species have been populating since the sea patrollers frontline in the campaign.
Recently, a video documentary featuring dynamite fishing blast victims turned responsible fishermen was produced by the CaPENRO as a campaign material against illegal fishing.
The province has a vast and rich fishing ground covering the coastal waters of Roxas City as well as Sapian, Ivisan, Panay, Pontevedra, President Roxas and Pilar towns. (PIA Capiz)/PN
