Protecting Tañon remains a challenge

CEBU, Philippines - Protecting the Tañon Strait from commercial fishing operators remains to be a big challenge for the government agencies tasked to guard the country's largest protected seascape.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources admitted that commercial fishing operators continue to enter the area despite several warnings. In fact, three commercial fishing vessels were recently apprehended by the composite team of DENR-7, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-7, and Maritime Police Unit-7.

Am Prospero Lendio, DENR-7 protected area superintendent for Tañon Strait Protected Seascape (TSPS), said charges are being prepared for filing against the fishing boat operators and its crew members.

Lendio said Tañon Strait is restricted for commercial fishing to protect and conserve marine resources in the area.

"The intrusion of commercial fishing vessels at the TSPS had been a common violation… This problem continues to be a challenge to us," he said.

Lendio admitted that the lack of resources had been a major handicapped for them to be able to effectively protect TSPS from commercial fishers. He said they do not have enough patrol boats to conduct seaborne operations.

He said his office is just relying on BFAR-7 for the patrol boats. Although he said a request has been made for two patrol boats from their head office.

Lendio is asking the support of the local government units to help in protecting the marine sanctuary considering that it is their own constituents that are benefitting from the resources therein.

He warned commercial fishing operators that they will be charged with violation of Republic Act 7586 or the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act of 1992 if caught operating in the area.

Alma Saavedra, public information officer of BFAR-7, said the agency also intends to intensify their campaign by educating fishermen and conducting operations against violators.

He said the deployment of the agency's patrol boats had been frequent nowadays to areas where illegal and destructive fishing has been rampant.She pointed out that it is an advantage for them since they have the necessary floating assets to be used in the operations.— /FPL (FREEMAN)