BFAR says it’s intensifying patrols due to Chinese vessels in West Philippine Sea

The Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources has intensified its seaborne patrols, citing the continuous presence of Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea.

In a statement, the BFAR raised concerns over Chinese militia vessels conducting fishing operations in the tension-filled areas.

“These foreign vessels have no clearance from the Philippine government or any existing fisheries cooperation agreements with the country that allow them to conduct any fishing operations,” the agency said in a statement on Tuesday.

“Their fishing activities, therefore, are considered Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing within the Philippine territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ),” it added.

In a recent signing of memorandum of understanding between the BFAR and Philippine National Police's Maritime Group (PNP-MG), they vowed to conduct joint seaborne patrols in the disputed areas and further intensified with members to serve as ship riders on BFAR vessels.

The department also expressed support for the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to file new diplomatic protests against the foreign vessels.

The BFAR, in coordination with the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS), said its Fisheries Monitoring Center (FMC) has also tracked the activities of commercial fishing vessels including those equipped with Automatic Identification System (AIS), and detects fishing boats that employ lights to attract fish at night using the satellite-based tool, Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suites (VIIRS).

It said that the Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images will also be used to reinforce monitoring and analysis of IUU fishing activities in the West Philippine Sea starting next week.

“The DA-BFAR shall continue to assist in keeping the safety of Filipino fisherfolk and exercising our country’s sovereignty and sovereign rights over our territorial waters and EEZ, respectively, in the WPS,” it added. — Richa Noriega/BM, GMA News