The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in the Philippines, an agency under the Department of Agriculture (DA), will strengthen its campaign against illegal fishing through a revised Fisheries Administrative Order (FAO).
FAO No. 246-1 Series of 2018 states that those who are caught with the mere possession of equipment used for Danish Seine or Modified Danish Seine, locally termed hulbot-hulbot, will be apprehended.
Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said that the previous order, FAO No. 246, only penalized those in the operation of catching fishes using hulbot-hulbot if they are caught in the act.
It’s difficult to apprehend in the seas, Piñol told representatives from local government units, law enforcement agencies and fisherfolk in a dialogue which introduced the new FAO, held in Jaro, Iloilo City on July 25.
Further, the order states that the presence of the equipment for hulbot-hulbot, regardless of location, is enough evidence to show that the law was violated.
FAO No. 246-1 will be implemented nationwide after July 29, according to Piñol.
For administrative cases, those who are directly involved in the operation of illegal fishing activities will be fined with five times of the price of fishes caught or PhP2 million, whichever is higher.
The fishes caught, nets and other fishing equipment will be confiscated. Those who participated in the operation, meanwhile, will be fined PhP20,000 or community service.
For criminal cases, those who are directly involved will serve two to 10 years in jail and will pay a fine that is twice the specified amount for administrative cases.
If you look at this at a visionary point-of-view, you will understand that what we are doing will reward us, Piñol told the involved partners in the implementation of the said FAO.
2018 Philippine Information Agency