DA studying removal of fishing restriction
THE Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) is considering allowing commercial fishing vessels to operate in municipal waters to help increase the Philippines’ fish output.
According to Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol, the implementation of Republic Act (RA) 10654—which amended the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998 and imposed a 15-kilometer fishing limit on such vessels—did not increase yields.
Under this law, those found guilty of commercial fishing violations will pay fines ranging from P1 million to P45 million.
“Since the implementation of the law, there have been about a 20-percent to 22-percent reduction in the catch. So it is really worth reviewing,” he said in an interview.
“[T]he plan now is to review…two options: increase the tannings of the fishermen’s boats [that would allow them]to fish within municipal waters…or reduce the breath and width of [those]waters,” he added.
The department would propose reducing the fishing limit to 10 km, the Agriculture chief said, who expects that proposal to be acted upon within the year.
BFAR may initially work on this matter with local government units (LGUs), which can modify the law in their waters, like what Davao City did when it allowed commercial fishing boats to operate within 10.1 to 15 km, he added.
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