BFAR partners with government agencies to strengthen anti-illegal fishing campaign
Published Jul 26, 2018 10:58 am
By Marie Tonette Grace Marticio
Tacloban City - The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) continued to strengthen its campaign against illegal fishing by forming the Regional Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee-Subcommittee on Fishing and Marine Environment Protection (RLECC-SFMEP) in Eastern Visayas.
(Marie Marticio / MANILA BULLETIN)
BFAR 8 Regional Director Juan Albaladejo said that the committee is tasked to coordinate policies and procedures to facilitate cooperation and integration of effort among member-agencies and ensure a unified direction in the suppression of illegal fishing activities.
It is composed of representatives from regional offices such as the Department of Interior Local Government (DILG), Philippine National Police (PNP), Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of Agriculture (DA).
It is responsible for identifying priority or hot spot areas for joint law enforcement activities, as well as delineating policies and thrusts in the effective implementation of law enforcement functions.
“The team agreed to strengthen auxiliaries such as Bantay-Dagat in coastal municipalities and add conditions on the deed of donations of patrol boats to local government units,” Albaladejo shared.
He said that members of the committee have also updated themselves on Fisheries Administrative Order No. 246-1, which amended FAO 246 on the Banning of Operation of Danish Seine and Modified Danish Seine or ‘hulbot-hulbot’ and ‘buli-buli’ in Philippine waters.
The order states that “mere possession of Danish Seine and Modified Danish Seine and or its paraphernalia by a fisherfolk or by any person in a fishing ground or inside a fishing vessel shall constitute a prima facie evidence that the fisherfolk or the person has committed this violation.”
Danish Seine and its modified form are active fishing gears often used in commercial fishing, which consists of a conical net with a pair of wings, the ends of which are connected to a rope embedded with ‘buri’, plastic strips, sinkers or other similar materials to serve as scaring or herding device hauled through a mechanical winch or by manpower.
(Marie Marticio / MANILA BULLETIN)
BFAR 8 Regional Director Juan Albaladejo said that the committee is tasked to coordinate policies and procedures to facilitate cooperation and integration of effort among member-agencies and ensure a unified direction in the suppression of illegal fishing activities.
It is composed of representatives from regional offices such as the Department of Interior Local Government (DILG), Philippine National Police (PNP), Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of Agriculture (DA).
It is responsible for identifying priority or hot spot areas for joint law enforcement activities, as well as delineating policies and thrusts in the effective implementation of law enforcement functions.
“The team agreed to strengthen auxiliaries such as Bantay-Dagat in coastal municipalities and add conditions on the deed of donations of patrol boats to local government units,” Albaladejo shared.
He said that members of the committee have also updated themselves on Fisheries Administrative Order No. 246-1, which amended FAO 246 on the Banning of Operation of Danish Seine and Modified Danish Seine or ‘hulbot-hulbot’ and ‘buli-buli’ in Philippine waters.
The order states that “mere possession of Danish Seine and Modified Danish Seine and or its paraphernalia by a fisherfolk or by any person in a fishing ground or inside a fishing vessel shall constitute a prima facie evidence that the fisherfolk or the person has committed this violation.”
Danish Seine and its modified form are active fishing gears often used in commercial fishing, which consists of a conical net with a pair of wings, the ends of which are connected to a rope embedded with ‘buri’, plastic strips, sinkers or other similar materials to serve as scaring or herding device hauled through a mechanical winch or by manpower.