ILOILO – After the United States raised concerns over the incidental capture of marine mammals linked to certain Philippine fishing methods, the Iloilo provincial government has intensified its protection of marine wildlife by creating a province-wide task force to monitor fishing-related bycatch, respond to marine animal strandings, and strengthen conservation measures.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. signed Executive Order No. 072, Series of 2026 on June 29, institutionalizing the Province of Iloilo’s Marine Wildlife Conservation, Bycatch Monitoring, and Stranding Response Program while establishing the Task Force on Marine Wildlife Conservation, Bycatch Monitoring, and Stranding Response to ensure full implementation of policies aimed at protecting endangered marine species and preserving access to international markets.
The executive order came after an assessment by the United States National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) Import Provisions identified concerns over marine mammal bycatch associated with certain Philippine fishing methods, including fisheries harvesting blue swimming crabs.
The assessment also highlighted possible interactions with endangered marine mammals such as the Irrawaddy dolphin.
The assessment specifically cited the absence of a comprehensive marine mammal bycatch monitoring program, the lack of a mandatory reporting, documentation and verification system for marine mammal deaths and serious injuries, and insufficient evidence of effective mitigation measures to reduce marine mammal bycatch and fisheries interactions.
Bycatch refers to the incidental capture, injury or death of marine wildlife during fishing activities, while stranding refers to incidents in which marine wildlife is found ashore, trapped, injured, sick, distressed, dead, or otherwise unable to return to its natural habitat without assistance.
According to Defensor, the province recognizes the need to institutionalize mechanisms for marine wildlife conservation, bycatch monitoring, stranding response, scientific assessment, habitat management, fisheries compliance support, and multi-sectoral coordination to strengthen biodiversity protection and ensure the sustainable management of aquatic resources.
The program will focus on Iloilo’s 19 coastal municipalities — San Joaquin, Miag-ao, Guimbal, Tigbauan, Oton, Leganes, Zarraga, Dumangas, Barotac Nuevo, Banate, Anilao, Barotac Viejo, Ajuy, Concepcion, San Dionisio, Batad, Estancia, Balasan, and Carles — whose extensive coastlines support fisheries and coastal livelihoods.
Under the order, the governor directed the protection, conservation, rehabilitation and sustainable management of marine wildlife and their habitats through a coordinated, science-based and participatory approach involving government agencies, local government units, academic institutions, civil society organizations, fisherfolk and coastal communities.
Defensor will chair the newly created task force, with the regional directors of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) serving as co-chairpersons alongside Provincial Administrator Raul Banias. The mayors of all 19 coastal municipalities will serve as members.
Among the task force’s major responsibilities are establishing mandatory monitoring and inspection protocols for fisheries bycatch incidents, deploying fisheries technicians and onboard observers to document marine mammal interactions, serving as the province’s primary response body for marine wildlife strandings, developing emergency rescue and disentanglement protocols, coordinating veterinary treatment and rehabilitation of injured marine wildlife, maintaining a centralized digital database of bycatch and stranding incidents, and submitting regular reports to BFAR, DENR and other concerned agencies.
The executive order also creates a Scientific Advisory Panel, a Marine Wildlife Reporting and Notification System, a Marine Wildlife Incident Command System, and a Marine Wildlife Information System to improve scientific monitoring, emergency response, documentation, and conservation planning. The Provincial Legal Office will oversee the reporting of violations of environmental and fishery laws to ensure compliance and accountability./PN
