FAO highlights importance of fisheries law enforcement to curb UUI fishing at Philippines National Fisherfolk Day
On the occasion of National Fisherfolk Day in the Philippines on 31 May, FAO highlights the importance of fisheries law enforcement to curb illegal, unregistered and unreported (IUU) fishing activities in the country and how we are assisting local partners in the effort.
According to a 2021 study by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Central Office and USAID, the municipal fisheries sector losses about 257,000 – 402,000 metric tons of fisheries catch annually, valued at around PHP 24.1 – 37.8 billion, due to illegal fishing. There also remains a significant number of unregistered fishers and fishing vessels, as well as unreported catch.
Fisheries law enforcement is important because it helps make sure that people follow the rules that protect fisheries resources and the marine environment. It is important in safeguarding against IUU fishing.
FAO, in collaboration with BFAR Regional Office IX, particularly the Training Division and the Enforcement and Regional Monitoring Control and Surveillance Operation Center (ERMCSOC), co-facilitated the Fisheries Law Enforcement Training for Bantay Dagat teams of Zamboanga del Norte in April and May 2023. The participants composed of municipal agriculturists, fisheries technicians, municipal environment and natural resources officers, representatives from the Philippine National Police (PNP), and “bantay dagat” fishermen volunteers from the Municipalities of Leon Postigo, Salug, Liloy, Labason, and Baliguian.
At this three-day training, the municipal teams learned about the different fisheries laws and environmental conservation regulations. They were familiarized with the permit and licensing systems for fisher and vessels They were taught intelligence and surveillance gathering techniques as well as oriented on the legal forms. They did practical plotting exercises in the use of global positioning systems.
On the last day of the workshop, they underwent practical boarding exercises and simulation on vessel inspection, search & seizure exercises at sea, so they can apply the knowledge and skills from the training. The activity concluded with a workshop on Fishery Law Enforcement Team Action Plan to institutionalize law enforcement in their respective municipal waters.
Kudos to the brave men and women fisheries law enforcers of the Philippines!