‘Colorum’ commercial fishing boats thrive in Eastern Visayas

TACLOBAN CITY – All but 5 percent of the 32,000 commercial fishing vessels in Eastern Visayas are registered with authorities, according to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) regional office.

BFAR Regional Director Juan Albaladejo said during the opening of the 55th Fish Conservation Week last Monday, said his office has “stepped up our campaign against illegal, undocumented and unreported fishing (IUU), like ‘hulbot-hulbot’, troll and ring nets” being used in municipal waters.

Albaladejo said he was working closely with other law enforcement agencies to enforce the ban Danish Seine (hulbot-hulbot) and Modified Danish Seine (buli-buli) in Philippine waters.

“When the fishing vessels dock, nawawala ‘yung (illegal) fishing gear so we are trying to solve that problem by activating our Regional Law Enforcement Coordinating CommitteeSubcommittee on Fishing and Marine Environment Protection (RLECCSFMEP),” he said

RLECC-SFMEP identifies priority areas for joint law enforcement 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), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Department of Agriculture (DA).

Albaladejo said BFAR will also ban the catching of small pelagics such as the nemipterus, short mackerel, big-eye scad, sardines and some demersal fish species in Samar Sea from April to July next year.

The ban, which aims to enable fish to spawn, will be enforced as BFAR forges an agreement with the Samar Sea Alliance.

The Samar Sea, between the Bicol region and Eastern Visayas, is known for its biodiversity. It covers the coastal waters of Almagro, Tagapul-an, Sto. Niño, Gandara, Sta. Margarita, Tarangnan, Daram, Pagsangjan and Zumarraga in Samar.

Albaladejo said BFAR will also introduce massive shellfish production as alternative sources of income for fishermen who will be affected by the ban.