BFAR-7: Satellite Tracker System To Address Illegal Fishing

Incidence of illegal fishing and other illegal activities at sea will be minimized once the establishment of a satellite tracker system is done with extensive monitoring capability of the entire Visayan Sea.

Dr. Allan Poquita, assistant regional director of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR-7), said the satellite tracker system will be placed at the Philippine Coast Guard – Cebu near the pier terminal overlooking the sea.

“The area is now being cemented to pave the way for the establishment of the satellite tracker system which will hopefully be completed before the year ends,” said Poquita, relaying the good news to member-agencies of the Coastal Law Enforcement Alliance in Region 7 (CLEAR-7) during its 1st quarterly meeting.

Poquita said the satellite device is not limited to monitoring illegal fishing alone but all illegal activities at sea including smuggling, human trafficking and terrorism.

“The device’s monitoring capability is far and wide-reaching encompassing the entire Visayan Sea,” said Poquita.

Issues on illegal fishing continue to hound the Central Visayas Region especially in the seven major fishing grounds as discussed during the recent CLEAR-7 meeting.

The identified major fishing grounds are the Visayan Sea, Camotes Sea, Danajon Bank, Tañon Strait Protected Seascape, Cebu/Bohol Strait, Bohol Sea and the East Sulu Sea.

The top five common violations cited in the major fishing grounds are the intrusion of commercial fishing vessels in municipal waters, dynamite fishing, use of compressor, selling of dynamited fish and land-based pollution.

Strategies mapped out to address the top five issues were on policy and procedural review and research including the total banning of commercial fishing within municipal waters; monitoring, control and surveillance and; capability building where information and education drive on fishery-related laws is strengthened.

Last year, BFAR-7 confiscated various assorted fish positive of blast fishing in some public markets and pier areas in the cities of Cebu and Mandaue in coordination with the Cebu City Bantay Dagat Commission and other law enforcement agencies.

Likewise, in late October of last year, 5,170 kilos of frozen tuna were also seized at Pasil Fish Port in Cebu City.

On separated occasions, four fishing vessels were apprehended and 54 individuals arrested during the conduct of a seaborne patrol within the Tañon Strait Protected Seascape in coordination with Department of Environment and Natural Resources and other government agencies. (rmn/fcr/PIA7)