By Lilybeth Ison/PNA
MANILA — Concerned government agencies on Monday adopted a Joint Memorandum Circular which strengthens the Fisheries Law Enforcement Manual of Operation that will be used in eliminating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the country.
The manual, which will be provided to law enforcement personnel, establishes standard operating procedures in the enforcement of Republic Act No. 10654 or the Amended Philippine Fisheries Code and other fisheries laws, rules and regulations.
During the first command conference of the Philippine Committee (PhilCom) against IUU fishing held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City, the group also agreed that there is a need to review the National Action Plan.
Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, who chairs the committee, in his speech, said the National Action Plan is necessary to “prevent, deter, and eliminate IUU fishing.”
He said as the committee is mandated to ensure the full implementation of the National Action Plan, “we are expected to give our full commitment to harmonizing all our efforts and ensuring the success of this drive to stop and prevent IRR fishing.”
National Security Adviser Chief Hermogenes Esperon Jr., who delivered the message of President Rodrigo Duterte, said the challenge really is how to give more teeth to the committee for IUU fishing.
“We are talking of a harmonized operation between and among government instrumentalities aligned with maritime, environment, and fisheries. One that will concentrate in guarding and protecting the 24 major fishing grounds that the country have to maintain its present production for the next five to 10 years. And doing so, improves their respective capabilities against crime at sea and crimes that uses the sea as the medium of their activities,” he said.
According to Piñol, the Philippines loses PHP5.07 trillion worth of fisheries yearly due to illegal and destructive practices based on studies.
Some PHP4.9 trillion is the annual losses attributed to blast fishing, PHP61 billion for poaching, and PHP9.4 billion for overfishing.
“The destruction of marine ecosystems resulting from IUU fishing undermine the ecological services they provide, which include goods, such as fish harvests. This would spell disaster for the 82 million Filipinos who rely on fish as their main source of protein,” he said.
“With clear and strong policies already in place, there can be no excuses for failure,” he added.
PhilCom members include the Office of the President, the Departments of Agriculture, Transportation and Communications, Interior and Local Government, Finance, Justice, National Defense, and Foreign Affairs; concerned Economic Zone authorities, and private sector representatives.
The next meeting is scheduled in March 2019 in Zamboanga City.
