Fisherfolk back code amendment

CEBU, Philippines - Groups of fishers and environmental advocates have supported the move to amend to the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998 and commended the concerned national agency for the reform.

“We strongly support the amendments to Republic Act 8550. We applaud the Department of Agriculture through the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources for leading the policy reform initiatives that facilitated the strengthening of BFAR as an enforcement agency, put in place needed conservation and management measures,” read the groups’ declaration.

Behind the declaration were Dennis Calvan, executive director of NGOs for Fisheries Reform, Inc.; Vince Cinches of Greenpeace-Philippines; Balaod Mindanao; Center for Empowerment and Resource Development; HARIBON Foundation; HAYUMA Foundation; and several other groups based all over the country.

The amendments include the institutionalization of vessel monitoring mechanisms and the increase of penalty on illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.

The groups also lauded the 16th Congress for underscoring the need to conform to modern international laws and conventions like the United Nations Conventions on the Law of the Sea and the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, among others.

“We extend our gratitude to the 16th Congress for seeing through the complex process of negotiations and renegotiations in policymaking. In the end, the common interests for sustainable fisheries emerged victorious,” the groups said.

According to them, fisherfolk organizations have long been urging the lawmakers to amend some of the provisions of the law for it to become more responsive to the needs of the modern times.

Senator Cynthia Villar, who sponsored for the amendment, recognizes the fisheries sector as “important” considering that the country is one of the top producers of fish in the world, being sixth in fish production.

The country’s production involves 4.97 million metric tons of fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and aquatic plants, comprising 3.12% of the world total catch of 159.1 million metric tons, according to Food and Agriculture Organization.

Villar said the Philippines is also ninth in aquaculture production of fish, crustaceans and mollusks, and contributes 1.4% to the global aquaculture production of 52.55 million metric tons, or over $1.58 billion.

Hence, she said there must be a “strict implementation and enforcement of laws and policies” to safeguard the country’s seas, and RA 8550, with its amended provisions, will help achieve this goal. — (FREEMAN)