ILOILO – Northern Iloilo is an illegal fishing hotspot in Western Visayas, according to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR). Most of the violations were the use of active gears and encroachment of municipal waters by commercial fishing vessels.
Between 2016 to 2018, BFAR Region 6 filed 470 complaints against illegal fishing vessel operators, said Assistant Regional Director Carlito Delfin. Four hundred were already resolved.
The municipal waters of northern Iloilo towns – Carles, Balasan, Estancia, Batad, San Dionisio, Concepcion, Ajuy, Barotac Viejo, and Banate – are part of the marine resource-rich Visayan Sea.
Delfin lamented the difficulty in prosecuting illegal fishing violators. BFAR is the agency under the Department of Agriculture responsible for the development, improvement, law enforcement, management, and conservation of Philippine fisheries and aquatic resources.
To address this prosecutorial concern, BFAR yesterday simulated an anti-illegal commercial fishing operation for more than two hours in the waters off Iloilo City’s fishing port complex. Some 30 judges and prosecutors from Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Cebu, Capiz and Masbate were asked to observe.
“They saw how difficult and dangerous our anti-illegal fishing operations are, especially during inclement weather,” said Delfin.
The simulation exercise was conducted in coordination with Oceana, an advocacy organization focused on ocean conservation.
“Napansin kasi namin hindi appreciated ang work ng mga enforcers. Kahit filed na ‘yung kaso, ‘yung iba nadi-dismiss lang, itinatabi,” said Gloria Ramos, Oceana vice president.
Judges and prosecutors witnessed how commercial fishing vessels that are into illegal fishing are detected, boarded and inspected; and if there are violations, how evidence are gathered and preserved, and the suspects arrested.
“The role of enforcement is very significant because it serves as a deterrent to illegal fishing,” said Ramos.
She stressed the need for collaboration not only among enforcement agencies (BFAR, Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine National Police – Maritime Command) but also among prosecutors and the courts.
Ramos noted it was the first time for the participating judges and prosecutors to enter a vessel and watch the simulation activity.
She expressed hope that with what they saw, the judges and prosecutors would not be dismissive of the BFAR documents related to illegal fishing cases.
“We are overfished already. More than two-thirds of our fishing grounds are heavily exploited; the Visayan Sea is one example,” said Ramos./PN
