ILOILO City – More than 90 reservists of the Philippine Navy from several coastal towns in Iloilo have signified their commitment to eliminate illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities in the region.
The reservists signified their commitment before the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) during their orientation on Marine Ecology and Fishery Laws, Rules, and Regulations held in Estancia town recently.
The Navy reservists will also support the efforts of the Regional Inter-Agency Task Force in ensuring the protection and conservation of marine resources as members of the task force.
“The gravity of the issue of IUU fishing demands a unified and determined response. A significant partnership is forged in this meeting to safeguard our seas and ensure the responsible and sustainable use of our marine resources,” said Col. Hilario C. De Vera, Jr., Commander of the Naval Reservist-Western Visayas.
De Vera further cited that the Naval Reserve Center will join hands with the BFAR-6 in pooling expertise and resources to combat IUU fishing.
Likewise, BFAR-6 Fisheries Management Regulatory and Enforcement Division chief Erwin E. Ilaya emphasized the importance of everyone’s participation in the protection, conservation, and management of fisheries and aquatic resources to ensure food security.
Fishery Regulation Officer Glenn D. Nonifara, on the other hand, highlighted the effects of overfishing and the importance of enforcing fishery laws and regulations towards the sustainability of fishery production.
Linlyn B. Brito, member of the Fisheries Management Area (FMA) 11 Secretariat, introduced to the navy reservists the science behind FMAs, the advantages of managing fisheries at the FMA level, the roles of different stakeholders in FMAs, and the five-year (2022-2027) Management Framework Plan of Fisheries Management Area 11, which aims to address the four priority issues such as declining fish catch, IUU fishing, compliance and enforcement capacity, and livelihood.
The activity also featured a lecture on Fisheries Administrative Order No. 167-3, or the Visayan Sea Closed Season, which started on Nov. 15, 2023, and will last until Feb. 15, 2024.
It has also emphasized the Bantay Visayan Sea campaign, urging the public to develop awareness and report fisheries violators to the proper authorities. (PIA 6)/PN
