An enforcement summit will be held in April in order to address the decreasing fish population in the Visayan Sea, following data from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) reporting a 34 percent drop in the local fish population over the past five years.

According to non-government organization Oceana Philippines, the summit expects to include governors, mayors, and concerned government agencies from Negros Occidental, Iloilo, Masbate, Cebu, and Capiz.

The group’s communications associate, Candeze R. Mongaya, said Oceana Philippines will serve as a partner in the talks, providing science input in order to advance policy development.

“The Visayan Sea, as we know, is the third largest fishing ground in the Philippines,” Mongaya said. “It supports half a million fisherfolk pero marami tayong problema (but there are many problems) regarding illegal fishing.”

She added, a separate seminar will be held in May in order to reorient fiscals, judges, and environmental lawyers on fisheries law.

Meanwhile, Provincial Agriculturist Ildefonso Toledo said the initial enforcement plan for the Visayan Sea is for the provinces to conduct synchronized fishery law enforcement operations./JAN, WDJ