(Photo courtesy of PIA)
ILOILO CITY – The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Region 6 has intensified coordination with government agencies to combat illegal fishing, strengthen fisheries law enforcement, and improve marine mammal protection across Western Visayas.
The initiative was discussed during the third-quarter meeting of the Regional Inter-Agency Task Force on Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing (RIATF-IUUF), attended by representatives from law enforcement, regulatory, and fisheries agencies.
BFAR-6 Regional Director Remia Aparri urged participating agencies to identify enforcement gaps, strengthen cooperation, and establish concrete commitments to address illegal fishing activities.
“Let us leave this room with clearer commitments, and not just a longer list of reports,” Aparri said.
The meeting brought together representatives from the Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine National Police, National Telecommunications Commission, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, Philippine Fisheries Development Authority, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, Bureau of Customs, and BFAR provincial offices.
Discussions focused on fisheries regulations, marine mammal protection, enforcement accomplishments, and compliance with local fisheries ordinances.
BFAR Fishing Regulations Officer Ryan Doronilla presented existing laws and initiatives concerning marine mammal conservation, while Philippine Coast Guard representative John Mare Castellano discussed response procedures for marine mammal incidents.
BFAR Fisheries Management, Regulatory and Enforcement Division chief Dr. Erwin Ilaya also reported the task force’s accomplishments during the third quarter.
Meanwhile, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region 6 presented information on local government fisheries ordinances and enforcement teams to help identify areas requiring stronger implementation.
BFAR’s Iloilo Provincial Fisheries Office also introduced reporting forms for blue swimming crabs and marine mammal strandings to improve monitoring, documentation, and incident reporting.
The initiative supports the government’s directive to strengthen monitoring systems and intensify efforts against illegal fishing in Philippine waters.
Aparri emphasized that protecting marine resources requires sustained cooperation among government agencies and fishing communities.
“IUU fishing is not a problem any single agency can solve. It will take all of us, with the same resolve that we owe to the fisherfolk who depend on healthy seas,” she said.
BFAR-6 and its partner agencies committed to strengthening coordinated enforcement efforts, protecting marine biodiversity, and safeguarding the livelihoods of fishing communities throughout Western Visayas.
