ILOILO City – The Regional Maritime Unit 6 (RMU-6) is intensifying its coastal operations against illegal fishing in Western Visayas.
According to Colonel Juritz Rara, the newly installed regional commander, he ordered all station chiefs to conduct seaborne patrol particularly in northern Iloilo.
Rara said they have high-speed water craft for police visibility and seaborne patrol.
“This is a big challenge to us but we will try our best to eradicate illegal fishing. Police visibility can help minimize illegal fishing and this is part of our preventive measures,” Rara said.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. had earlier ordered Iloilo Police Provincial Office director Colonel Bayani Razalan to prioritize and strengthen the campaign against illegal fishing and management of the Visayan Sea.
“We will work hand in hand with the provincial government and Bantay Dagat members in running after Illegal fishers,” Rara added.
Meanwhile, beginning November 15, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Western Visayas implemented a closed season in the Visayan Sea, prohibiting the fishing, buying, consuming, and selling of sardines, herrings, and mackerels until February 15, 2025.
This measure is mandated by Fisheries Administrative Order No. 167-3 (2013), which aims to conserve these fish species by enforcing a seasonal and spatial fishing ban in the Visayan Sea.
The Visayan Sea, known for its rich biodiversity, is a critical area for fishing, supplying a significant portion of the country’s sardines, mackerels, and other fish./PN
