ILOILO – To curb illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, the local government unit (LGU) of Carles organized the largest Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) in the country.
A kick off ceremony for the IATF was held on Feb. 13 at Bancal Port in Carles.
“We cannot (eliminate IUU fishing) alone. Now, we see that our cries for help have been heard,” said Vice Mayor Arnold T. Betita II.
He added, “We are praying that this taskforce will lessen if not completely eliminate illegal fishing activities to preserve our natural resources.”
The taskforce is composed of local and national enforcement agencies, including: Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) – Fisheries Protection and Law Enforcement Group 6, Carles Bantay Dagat headed by the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Department of Interior and Local Government 6, Police Regional Office 6, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, Philippine Coast Guard – Western Visayas, Philippine Navy, Regional Maritime Group, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency 6, Maritime Industry Authority 6, National Telecommunications Commission 6, Philippine Fisheries Development Authority 6, and Bureau of Customs – Port of Iloilo.
These agencies committed manpower and floating assets, among others, to help Carles manage, protect, and conserve their municipal waters.
“We laud the Carles LGU for taking this initiative for our resources, for the fisherfolk, and for the future generations. Indeed, we are only as strong as we are united,” emphasized officer-in-charge chief Lorna Angor of the Fisheries Management, Regulatory, and Enforcement Division of BFAR-6 during the kick off ceremony.
A series of information campaigns and dialogues were initiated in hotspot barangays to understand factors affecting public compliance and to solicit commitment from coastal community members.
In 2021, Carles mayor Siegfredo A. Betita called on the national and provincial governments to intensify the fight against illegal fishing.
“What we need is national, regional and provincial help. Local (governments) could not totally stop (IUU fishing), only minimize it. Our Bantay Dagat is not big and fully armed, and our resources are not enough because the IRA (Internal Allotment Revenue) is based on land area, not the sea area,” said Betita.
This came after the town was included among the 20 LGUs that were issued stern warnings from the DILG in 2021 for IUUF. Carles was No. 10 on the list for most cases of IUUF violations – 762 total detections.
Former Interior secretary Eduardo Año said LGUs must strengthen enforcement of the Philippine Fisheries Code and other existing policies for the protection of coastal communities and fishing folks within their jurisdiction or face administrative sanctions.
“Despite the pandemic, we want to remind LGUs of the protection of our aquatic resources, which unfortunately is still an issue. Para sa 20 na pamahalaang lokal na ito na ating pinadalhan ng warning, mahigpit ang ating paalala na pangalagaan ang ating mga karagatan,” Año said.
The LGUs were informed of the total number of IUUF committed in their areas using satellite technology, particularly for having the highest number of encroachments or violations in the use of superlight and other artificial light sources (to attract fish during the night). Its use is prohibited under Section 98 of the Republic Act (RA) 8550, as amended by RA 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 super light.
“IUUF can cause a serious decline in fisheries resources and negatively impact food security and livelihoods for coastal communities and fisherfolk, kaya napakahalagang tutukan ito ng mga LGUs,” he emphasized. (With a report from BFAR Region 6)/PN
