Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) national director Commodore Eduardo B. Gongona underscored the importance of municipal water and its abundant marine resources in view of the government’s campaign to achieve food security in the country.
Gongona, who is Agriculture Undersecretary for Fisheries, was among the guests and a keynote speaker during the culminating activity for the month-long Visayan Sea Seaborne Patrol Operation recently at Culasi Port in Roxas City.
He said that there is a need to take care of the municipal water which is a productive part of the sea that can produce and supply adequate fish for the consumption of the Filipinos.
The 15-kilometer municipal water from the shoreline is a suitable habitat of various fish species and other marine resources.
The cabinet official also added that a proposal for the harmonization of all government instrumentalities aligned with environment, maritime and fisheries, mandating them to protect the 24 major fishing grounds inside the country’s municipal water, has been submitted and awaiting approval by Malacañang.
The harmonization will make municipal waters productive and will also curb unfavorable activities using the sea as a medium, Gongona said, adding that even the Armed Forces of the Philippines can be tapped to protect the major fishing grounds under the proposed initiative.
Also, the wild water fish production will be complemented by the marine and aquaculture production through the establishment of at least 300 fish cages in every region.
During the program, Gongona commended the personnel of BFAR, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine National Police (PNP) and PNP Maritime Group, among others, who successfully carried out the month-long seaborne operation in the Visayan Sea last April.
The intensified operation has nabbed at least 21 fishing vessels, trawl boats and seine fishing vessels for illegal and unauthorized fishing in Regions 5, 6 and 7 surrounding the Visayan Sea based on a video presentation of the operation’s accomplishments. (LTP/AAL/PIA Capiz)
