The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-Region VI (BFAR-6) recently announced the creation of a task force to combat illegal fishing.

According to BFAR-6 Director Remia Aparri, the task force will work to curb acts of illegal fishing throughout all the provinces in the region.

BFAR-6 is currently working on agreements with the Iloilo provincial government, along with the municipal governments of Carles and Concepcion, in the said province.

The Iloilo Provincial Bantay Dagat Task Force has apprehended numerous fishermen utilizing prohibited gear, with the most recent occurring earlier this month, when fishermen from Roxas City, Capiz were apprehended off the coast of Concepcion for using a gillnet, locally referred to as “palupad.”/WDJ