BFAR-7 Reports Decreases in Unauthorized Commercial Fishing

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)-Region 7 has reported a decrease in unauthorized commercial fishing vessels involved in illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in Central Visayas.

Some 202 commercial fishing vessels had been operating without permits in the waters in the region, according to BFAR-7 Fisheries Regulatory and Law Enforcement Division 2014 update said.

Of the number, 85 have already registered their gear licenses.

The deadline for the filing of application was on April 29.

Owners of commercial fishing vessel submitted their applications to the regional office, which will then endorse the papers to BFAR Central Office.

BFAR-7 Director Andres Bojos said the number of the new registrants is a manifestation that there is a decrease in the incidence of IUU fishing amid the strengthened effort against illegal fishing in the region.

Bojos said they need to sustain the present “green card” status given by the European Union to the Philippines.

“Presently we have passed the green tag, meaning we have substantially complied with the requirements such as the feasibility and mechanism put in place to regulate illegal fishing,” said Bojos.

Prior to the green card, the European Union gave the Philippines a ‘yellow card’ tag, which called for the country to fight illegal fishing comprehensively.

But Bojos said there are still reports of isolated cases of dynamite fishing in the region and as massive as in the 1980s and 1990s.

He said the continuing operations of dynamite fishing can be attributed to the smuggling of blasting caps.

He urged authorities to investigate cases of dynamite production to put an end to dynamite fishing. (PNA) LAP/EB/EDS