National summit highlights strengthened law against illegal fishing - Oceana Philippines
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National summit highlights strengthened law against illegal fishing

Press Release Date: November 4, 2015

 

At the National Summit on Participatory Governance Towards Sustainable Fisheries last Oct. 28, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) presented the amended Fisheries Code as the strongest measure yet to curb illegal fishing in the Philippines.

The amended Fisheries Code is the best chance for the Philippines to achieve sustainable fisheries, said Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, the main speaker at the summit.

 Dubbed “Isang Bangka” or one boat, the conference sought to unify efforts from various fisheries stakeholders against illegal, undocumented, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. It was attended by more than 300 representatives from the fishing industry, government, civil society organizations, and academe.

 “Unfortunately, most of us have forgotten our role in protecting our oceans. Through the amended Fisheries Code, we strengthen this protection. We are now in a better position to promote sustainable fisheries because the new law is more responsive,” Alcala said in his keynote message at the summit.

Alcala said the budget allocation for BFAR was increased from PhP 3.3 billion in 2010 to PhP 6 billion in 2015, to enable the fisheries bureau to fulfill its mandate in achieving sustainable fisheries.

 This year alone, BFAR has trained an additional 200 fisheries enforcers and deployed more than 100 patrol boats nationwide.

 Civil society organizations including Oceana Philippines, NGOs for Fisheries Reform, Greenpeace, WWF, and PAKISAMA distributed copies of the Katipunan Declaration, which calls for a more holistic implementation of the amended Fisheries Code to combat IUU fishing.

 The Katipunan Declaration was one of the main outputs from the Sustainable Fisheries Summit organized by civil society partners on October 19, where the implementing rules and regulations for the amended Fisheries Code were presented for the first time. The new rules call for a monitoring system for fishing vessels and higher penalties for violators, among other strong features.

 The one-page declaration called on the fisheries bureau to support coastal communities through enforcement trainings and education campaigns, and harmonize policies among government agencies.

 Alcala was presented with a copy of the declaration, which also urged BFAR to be consistent in banning active fishing gear in municipal waters, to ensure protection for habitats and coastal fishers.

“We have to keep moving forward and make sure that parochial interests do not roll back the gains we have achieved in ensuring the recovery of our fisheries. All the more civil society and government should come together and cooperate for the sake of the livelihoods of millions of fisherfolk and our food security and, of course,  the health of our oceans.” said Gloria Estenzo Ramos, Vice President for Oceana Philippines.

 

At the National Summit on Participatory Governance Towards Sustainable Fisheries last Oct. 28, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) presented the amended Fisheries Code as the strongest measure yet to curb illegal fishing in the Philippines.

The amended Fisheries Code is the best chance for the Philippines to achieve sustainable fisheries, said Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, the main speaker at the summit.

 Dubbed “Isang Bangka” or one boat, the conference sought to unify efforts from various fisheries stakeholders against illegal, undocumented, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. It was attended by more than 300 representatives from the fishing industry, government, civil society organizations, and academe.

 “Unfortunately, most of us have forgotten our role in protecting our oceans. Through the amended Fisheries Code, we strengthen this protection. We are now in a better position to promote sustainable fisheries because the new law is more responsive,” Alcala said in his keynote message at the summit.

Alcala said the budget allocation for BFAR was increased from PhP 3.3 billion in 2010 to PhP 6 billion in 2015, to enable the fisheries bureau to fulfill its mandate in achieving sustainable fisheries.

 This year alone, BFAR has trained an additional 200 fisheries enforcers and deployed more than 100 patrol boats nationwide.

 Civil society organizations including Oceana Philippines, NGOs for Fisheries Reform, Greenpeace, WWF, and PAKISAMA distributed copies of the Katipunan Declaration, which calls for a more holistic implementation of the amended Fisheries Code to combat IUU fishing.

 The Katipunan Declaration was one of the main outputs from the Sustainable Fisheries Summit organized by civil society partners on October 19, where the implementing rules and regulations for the amended Fisheries Code were presented for the first time. The new rules call for a monitoring system for fishing vessels and higher penalties for violators, among other strong features.

 The one-page declaration called on the fisheries bureau to support coastal communities through enforcement trainings and education campaigns, and harmonize policies among government agencies.

 Alcala was presented with a copy of the declaration, which also urged BFAR to be consistent in banning active fishing gear in municipal waters, to ensure protection for habitats and coastal fishers.

“We have to keep moving forward and make sure that parochial interests do not roll back the gains we have achieved in ensuring the recovery of our fisheries. All the more civil society and government should come together and cooperate for the sake of the livelihoods of millions of fisherfolk and our food security and, of course,  the health of our oceans.” said Gloria Estenzo Ramos, Vice President for Oceana Philippines.