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By Prince Golez, Manila Reporter
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MANILA – The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) called for the “proper” enforcement of fisheries law in the country.
A BFAR report said 10 out of 13 major fishing grounds here are overfished.
“We have to maintain and protect our traditional fishing grounds,” said National Director Eduardo Gongona.
Gongona said that illegal fishing persists due to the lack of enforcement of fisheries regulations.
Destructive fishing methods that contribute to the decline of fish supply include blast fishing, bottom trawl, and modified Danish seine, and the illegal exploitation of commercial fishers in municipal waters, the bureau chief said.
Lawyer Gloria Ramos of Oceana Philippines said that fish is not only a vital food source, but also an important source of livelihood among Filipinos.
“For a country that is dependent on the seas for sustenance and livelihood, we certainly need to be more vigilant in protecting our marine resources,” said Ramos.
Apart from strengthening fishing rules, Oceana Philippines also pushed for sustainable management of marine resources to protect the spawning ground of fish.
“If our fisheries will be given time and protection to recover, it would ensure seafood security and result to increased incomes for marginalized fisherfolk, who are the country’s poorest of the poor, and our coastal residents whose lives, income and culture are tied to our oceans,” the official said./PN
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