TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan -- The Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources appealed to the Philippine Coastguard for help in fighting against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activities along coastal waters of Region 2.
DA-BFAR 2 Regional Director Angel B. Encarnacion made the appeal to the country’s sea lane guardians during a briefing and welcome tribute for the officers and crew of the Multi-Mission Offshore Vessel (MMOV) 5001.
Said fleet will be deployed in Region 02 to conduct patrol missions along the region’s major fishing grounds in Babuyan and Balitang Channels during the summer season.
“With your presence in our waters, we are hoping that there will be a significant reduction of sightings of foreign poachers in our territory,” said Regional Director Encarnacion.
He believes the presence of floating assets within Philippine waters will deter the presence of foreign poachers from marauding the country’s rich fisheries and marine resources.
It was also revealed that for the last five to 10 years, there’s a noteworthy decline in apprehensions of people violating Section 91 of the Amended Republic Act No. 10654 (Philippine Fisheries Code).
The BFAR said the MMOV will also be used to deliver fishery inputs and services in remote areas such as the island municipality of Calayan and island province of Batanes.