Agri Sec Francis Laurel urged to make a difference and fully implement Fisheries Code
Press Release Date: March 12, 2024
International marine protection organization, Oceana, calls on Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francis Tiu Laurel, Jr. to prioritize in his administration’s 8-point agenda the full implementation of the Fisheries Code, as amended (Republic Act 10654), upholding science-based fisheries governance, transparency, and artisanal fisherfolk participation.
“Considering that Secretary Laurel is the first Agriculture Secretary, in recent years, to have come from the fisheries sector, we expect him to understand, more than anybody, that increasing fisheries production requires protection of our already overexploited, and rapidly declining fish stocks due to overfishing and rampant illegal fishing in our municipal waters. As somebody coming from the sector, Secretary Laurel knows that an evidence-based fisheries management backed by data will address the worsening conditions of our once-rich fishing grounds. Ending decades of inequity for fisherfolks who are consistently among the poorest in our society is a good promise, but we need to fully implement programs such as no-nonsense implementation of vessel monitoring requirement for all commercial fishing vessels and accountability for those violating our fisheries laws and regulations – these will truly improve the income and well-being of our fisherfolk, both from the municipal and commercial sector, ” said Atty. Gloria Estenzo Ramos, Oceana Vice President.
Oceana urges Laurel to hold regular dialogue with stakeholders among the artisanal and municipal fisherfolk sector and civil society organizations to ensure that the government’s programs and projects are relevant to the communities’ needs. The group said the small scale fishers and their families suffer the most from the losses arising from the destructive impact of extreme weather conditions climate change and which have aggravated the impacts of destruction of our fisheries and marine habitats.
Ramos said the building of post-harvest and value-adding facilities and providing transportation and market support to fisherfolk will help immensely in reducing losses due to spoilage when there is abundance of fish in their areas. “To restore our fish stocks, the BFAR under Secretary Laurel’s leadership should stop illegal entry of commercial fishing vessels in the municipal water by implementing fully vessel monitoring measures and the science-based fisheries management plan of Fisheries Management Areas (FMAs) throughout the country,” added Ramos.
San Isidro, Northern Samar Mayor Ferdinand Avila emphasizes the importance of implementing the National Sardines Management Plan and shared their intent to pass local policy instruments in the six towns of the province (San Isidro, San Antonio, Capul, San Vicente, Allen and Victoria) that are dependent on sardines for their livelihood. These local government units banded together and committed to help one another through their local government alliance – the San Bernardino Strait Local Government Alliance in Northern Samar (SABELANS).
“Our artisanal fisherfolk depend on sardines catch for their food and livelihood. The plan includes, not only the enforcement of catch control, but also the provision of post-harvest facilities and transportation and market access so our fisherfolk gain additional income not only from a fair selling price of their catch but in adding value to their fresh fish catch through processing,” added Avila.
In the last quarter of last year, 13 LGU members of the Alliance of Samar Bays and Channels (ALSBACH) and eight LGU members of the Samar Sea Alliance for Fisheries Management and Development issued unanimously a resolution to locally adopt the national sardines plan. As of press time, four of the six member-municipalities of SABELANS passed policies implementing the sardines management plan in San Isidro, San Antonio, Victoria, and Capul.
Oceana emphasizes the urgent need to address illegal fishing through the strict implementation of regulations such as the vessel monitoring rules under the Fisheries Administrative Order 266. “We reiterate our call to Secretary Laurel to compel the leadership of the BFAR to fully implement FAO 266 which includes the Electronic Reporting System (ERS) to provide the government with accurate data on fish catch from the source or fishing ground instead of relying on data submitted and collected in landing sites,” said Ramos.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. issued an Executive Order through the Executive Secretary in June 2023, ordering the BFAR and the National Telecommunications Commission to implement FAO 266. According to Oceana, the last update they got from BFAR showed that only 70% of commercial fishing vessels have been installed with vessel monitoring device, as of November 2023.
“This is an unacceptable level of compliance when the target was to reach 100% compliance by October 2023. This translates to 30% of commercial fishing vessels going out there and fishing indiscriminately without being monitored if they are fishing where they’re not supposed to fish and not submitting very important data to help manage our fisheries and worse, not being held accountable,” said Ramos. (END)
Oceana is the largest international advocacy organization dedicated solely to ocean conservation. Oceana is rebuilding abundant and biodiverse oceans by winning science-based policies in countries that control one-quarter of the world’s wild fish catch. With more than 300 victories that stop overfishing, habitat destruction, oil and plastic pollution, and the killing of threatened species like turtles, whales, and sharks, Oceana’s campaigns are delivering results. A restored ocean means that 1 billion people can enjoy a healthy seafood meal every day, forever. Together, we can save the oceans and help feed the world. Visit Oceana.org to learn more.
For More Information:
Joyce Sierra, Communications Manager, Oceana
Mobile: 09178214430 E-mail: jsierra@oceana.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/oceana.philippines
Twitter: @oceana_ph Instagram: @oceana_ph