BFAR chief ensures proper enforcement of laws to improve fish production

Proper enforcement of fishery laws is the key to improve fish production in the country, the chief of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said Wednesday.

"Our target is to improve fish production thru proper enforcement of fishery laws," BFAR Director Eduardo Gongona told reporters in a press conference in Quezon City.

Gongona noted the Fisheries Bureau is on track to achieving sustainable fish production.

"We are on target, more than 80 percent in food production ang nako-contribute natin sa Pilipinas," he said.

The BFAR chief added that aside from properly enforcing the law, the key to better fish production is through improving aquaculture and observance of fishing season

"Napakaganda po ng panahon ngayon para sa fisheries sa Pilipinas dahil kaka-amiyenda lang po ng ating batas. Last year lang po naipasa ang bagong batas, ang RA10654 or ang Amended Fisheries Code," said Rocky Guzman, legal and policy associate of Oceana Philippines.

Oceana is an international ocean conservation and advocacy organization. In the Philippines, the group intends to support the government goal to promote national policies that protect the country's vast marine resources.

Achievable

"So Ang batas na ito tinataas ang penalty laban sa illegal na pangingisda. We are confident and hopeful na dahil galing sa Coast Guard ang ating bagong BFAR director ma-i-enforce talaga ang batas. Enforcement po talaga ang focus ngayon, and hopeful po kami na masusugpo ang illegal fishing," Guzman said.

For his part, Daniel Ocampo, campaigns director of Oceana Philippines, said achieving affordable and sustainable fish supply is achievable.

"Marami namang scientist na nagsasabi na given time, given proper tools to actually ensure na 'yung isda natin ay nakakapag-reproduce, nababawasan 'yung illegal and destructive fishing, nakaka-rebound naman 'yung populasyon ng isda," Ocampo said.

To encourage coastal communities and discourage illegal fishing activities, Gongona announced that the BFAR is launching a search for the most outstanding coastal community on October 17.

"Kung sinoman ang mananalo na most outstanding coastal community will win P10 million cash prize. Ang criteria lang po nito, there should be a marine protected area, there is no illegal fishing, observance of fishing season, there should be clean coastal waters without any garbage or industrial influence in the sea, and there should be an effective mangrove protection and rehabilitation program," the BFAR chief noted.

"That is nationwide, I hope the coastal communities will be aware of this and vie for the number one. This will be every year and the very first time that BFAR organized such competition," Gongona added. — VDS, GMA News