The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said on Wednesday it is set to finalize within the month the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of an amended law that seeks to prevent and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the country.
Bfar Director Asis G. Perez said the agency attached to the Department of Agriculture will hold a final meeting next week to finalize the IRR of Republic Act (RA) 10654, known as “An Act to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing” RA 10564 amended RA 8550, otherwise known as the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998.
Despite the opposition of small fishermen to the law, Perez said the government remains firm in implementing RA 10654, saying that this will benefit the country’s fisheries sector.
“The Bfar shares the fishermen’s interest to make sure that there is continuous fishing and consistent growth in the industry. The agency, however, believes that this would only be possible if we prevent all forms of activities that jeopardize the sustainability of our marine and aquatic resources,” he said in a statement.
Hundreds of fishermen from various areas in Luzon gathered at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila on Wednesday as part of a “fish holiday” to protest against the amended law.
A “fish holiday” is aimed at halting fishing operations to significantly reduce the supply of marine products in public markets.
Reports said fishermen are against a provision in the law, which disallows fishing using an active gear or net and limits fishing activities 15 kilometers from the shore.
The Bfar, for its part, said the amendments to the Fisheries Code are intended to eliminate IUU fishing activities.
The law was introduced after the European Union slapped a yellow-card warning against the Philippines that brought the country a step closer to losing the lucrative European market for local fish products.
Perez added that the sanctions will affect only those who are “willingly, intentionally and willfully” violating the law and not those who abide by it.
“In fact, the amendments will benefit the fisheries sector because we ensure the elimination of destructive forms of fishing that will lead to an improved yet sustainable utilization of the fishery resources,” he said.
RA 10654 took effect in February this year. The amendments introduced in the law include higher penalties for any person discovered engaging in IUU fishing in Philippine waters and more stringent monitoring systems for commercial fishing vessels.
The law also made it unlawful for commercial fishing vessels to fish in municipal waters.