ILOILO City – Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Region 6 director Remia Aparri has called on members of the Regional Inter-Agency Task Force Against Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing (RIATF-IUUF) to translate their agreements into tangible action, warning that the region’s recent gains in fisheries production could be undermined by continued marine abuse and weak enforcement.
Speaking during the task force’s second-quarter meeting on July 3, Aparri underscored the need for “stronger coordination, accountability, and science-based enforcement” in addressing top illegal fishing threats in Western Visayas, including hulbot-hulbot (Modified Danish Seine), trawl operations within municipal waters, dynamite fishing, and the use of fine-meshed nets.
“Our fish sufficiency level stands at an impressive 117%, and fisheries production has grown by 14.1% in the first quarter of 2025 — but these gains are fragile,” Aparri warned. “If marine ecosystems like mangroves, seagrasses, and coral reefs continue to be degraded, we will lose fish and the livelihoods that depend on them.”
Preliminary data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) show that Western Visayas’ fisheries output rose from 52,415 metric tons in the first quarter of 2024 to 59,786 metric tons this year. But Aparri stressed that such progress hinges on sustainable practices and intensified efforts against illegal fishing.
She reiterated that the fight against IUU fishing is not the sole burden of law enforcers or fisherfolk, but a shared responsibility among all stakeholders — including local governments, national agencies, and commercial fishing operators.
Formed in September 2022, RIATF-IUUF is composed of representatives from the Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Navy, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Bureau of Customs (BOC), National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA), and others.
Under a Memorandum of Agreement, BFAR leads the operationalization of the task force, supported by vessel patrols from the Navy and BOC. NICA is tasked with intelligence gathering, while the CIDG monitors the movement of materials used in dynamite fishing. PFDA provides berthing for apprehended vessels, and DILG disseminates task force issuances to LGUs.
MARINA and the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) are also involved in joint mobile registration efforts for commercial fishing vessels to ensure legal compliance.
“Now more than ever, it is time to move beyond words,” Aparri said. “We must act decisively if we are to protect our marine resources not just for today, but for future generations.”/PN
