Press Release
Department of Agriculture
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
Regional Office No. 5
San Agustin, Pili, Camarines Sur
Email: region5@bfar.da.gov.ph
Website: www.bfar.da.gov.ph
Telefax: (054) 361-2326

BFAR Supports Intensified Fishery Law Enforcement in Masbate

Masbate City – To support the campaign against illegal fishing in Masbate pass municipalities, a three-day consultative workshop on Fishery Law Enforcement was conducted by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Regional Office No. 5 on March 15-17, 2012. The workshop was participated by the provincial government headed by Governor Rizalina Seachon-Lanete and municipal/city government headed by their respective mayors with their FARMC chairpersons. The participating municipalities are Aroroy, Dimasalang, Mobo, Uson, Baleno, Batuan, San Fernando, Monreal, San Jacinto and Masbate City.

The said consultation workshop had a reorientation on the Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Management Council (FARMC) which emphasized the FARMC’s vital role in law enforcement, integration of law enforcement plans and FARMC plans to the fishery resource management plans, and an open forum on fishing violations common to Masbate Pass municipalities.

BFAR National Director Asis Perez said that the bureau will give its full support in protecting their sea to ensure that the benefits derived from these resources will be enjoyed by the people primarily. He also stressed that the local government units should show initiative and cooperation to combat the rampant illegal fishing in the province.

During the open forum, the mayors and municipal agricultural officers of Masbate presented the status and the problems encountered in their municipal waters and asked assistance from the bureau. Perez declared that BFAR’s 30-meter long Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) vessel and a 28-footer patrol boat will conduct sea-borne operations specifically in the coastal waters of Masbate to support the local Bantay Dagat. The MCS vessel is a state-of-the-art high speed patrol vessel operated by the joint team of the Philippine Coast Guard and BFAR.

Moreover, the ten municipalities in Masbate Pass will receive two engines each for their Bantay Dagat to strengthen their law enforcement activities. Also discussed are some of the identified alternative livelihood projects for the fisherfolk like seaweed farming, equipment and capacity-building trainings needed in the municipalities such as fish examiners’ training through BFAR Region-5 headed by Regional Director Dennis del Socorro. Perez also had a meeting with Bishop Jose Bantolo of the Diocese of Masbate, a stalwart advocate against illegal fishing in the province.

Moreover, BFAR hosted a dinner meeting with local officials of Masbate aboard the M/V DA-BFAR, a 1000 GT, 60-meter long vessel equipped with modern technical equipment and machineries to facilitate numerous offshore and fisheries training, researches, experiments, oceanographic studies and exploration of the 200-mile EEZ and the high seas. Director Perez presented the priority thrusts of BFAR for 2012 and reaffirmed his commitment to intensify fishery resource protection and law enforcement to curb illegal fishing activities in support to the local government units.

BFAR SUPPORTS THE FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF FISHERY LAWS IN MASBATE.The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) showed its full support to the fishery law enforcement in the province of Masbate through a three-day Consultative Workshop on Fishery Law Enforcement on March 15-17, 2012 in Masbate City. Upper left photo, L-R: BFAR National Director Asis G. Perez discussed the fishery law enforcement thrust of BFAR. Upper center photo: Governor Rizalina Seachon-Lanete and Congressman Scott Davies Lanete joined BFAR Director Perez' dinner meeting aboard M/V DA-BFAR. Upper right photo, L-R: Director Perez strategizes the seaborne patrol operations in Masbate Pass with BFAR-5 Director Dennis del Socorro, Francisco Ombao, BFAR-5 FRMD Chief, Mayor Socrates Tuason of Masbate City and Mayor Ben Espiloy of Monreal during the dinner meeting aboard M/V DA-BFAR. Lower photos (L-R): BFAR's law enforcement support to Masbate includes the deployment of a 28-footer patrol boat and a 30-meter MCS vessel. Meanwhile a dinner meeting was held at the M/V DA-BFAR, a 60-meter (196 feet) 1000GT vessel equipped with modern technical equipment and machineries to facilitate numerous offshore and fisheries training, researches, experiments, oceanographic studies and exploration of the 200-mile EEZ and the high seas. (kathilotin)

For more information, please contact:
RONALDO A. CANABE
OIC, IEC Management Services
BFAR Regional Office No. 5
Tel. No. (054) 478-4508
CP Nos. 0917-8431480 / 0999-7342850