Cebu City forms task force to combat illegal fishing

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia has ordered the creation of a joint Task Force to tackle illegal fishing, following a recent incident of blast fishing that resulted in dead fish and destroyed coral reefs.

During a press conference on Monday, Garcia said he had received a report from Ed Karlon Rama, head of Bantay Dagat, detailing the illegal dynamite fishing activity. In response, Garcia directed the procurement of better equipment and stressed the urgency of forming a Task Force to address the issue.

According to Garcia, although the blast fishing occurred within Cebu City's jurisdiction, the perpetrators were not city residents. When the Bantay Dagat team attempted to pursue them, they had already fled to their respective Local Government Units (LGUs), where Cebu City has no authority.

To effectively combat the issue, Garcia announced the formation of an inter-LGU Task Force in coordination with the cities of Lapu-Lapu and the municipality of Cordova.

"So that we can have a more coordinated approach," Garcia said.

Additionally, Garcia instructed the Coast Management Board to intensify monitoring efforts against illegal fishing. He also directed the Budget Office to allocate funds for purchasing essential equipment, particularly floating assets.

"Kay lisod kaayo ng wa tay barko nya mugukod tag mga tawo nga nanghimo og krimen," he said.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and other national agencies will also be involved in the Task Force.

In a separate interview, Rama recounted that his team was conducting routine patrols in city waters when they spotted boats fleeing southward. Upon diving into the waters, they discovered commercially viable Class A fish already dead and being sold in the market. He noted that the fish were lying on their sides, a sign of internal organ rupture caused by an explosion.

Upon surfacing, they were informed by local fishermen that an explosion had been heard at around 6 a.m. Rama said they are currently gathering affidavits from witnesses.

"Lagyo man gud so wa gyuy naka-identify kinsa to plus ila lang gyung isulti, dili taga Cebu City," Rama said.

He also said that his team found two underwater "craters," believed to have been caused by dynamite explosions, along with damaged corals. These corals serve as vital habitats for fish, and further destruction could threaten the livelihood of local fisherfolk.

As part of the investigation, photos of the retrieved fish were presented, and samples were submitted to BFAR for official confirmation of blast fishing. While awaiting results, authorities are preparing to file charges for illegal possession of explosives. — (FREEMAN)