Undersecretary
Segfredo Serrano of the Department of Agriculture said the amendments to the
country's Fishery Code, being opposed by a number of fishermen, would actually
benefit the country in the long term.
Serrano said that one of the significant amendments to the Philippine Fishery Code is the recognition of the need to combat illegal and unregulated fishing.
Allowing fishermen to fish unlawfully brands the country as an “unsavory” source of fish products in the export market, Serrano said, referring to Republic Act 10654.
A lot of markets are fending off fishery products of unknown origin, whether they are poached from other territories or illegally harvested, he said.
"It will benefit us. It is for our own good that we are able to impose discipline on our own fishing industry," he added.
"Whether we like it or not, the fishery sector will become increasingly the dominant sector in our economy."
If the government fails to regulate the domestic fishing industry, it cannot manage such rich fishing grounds as Benham Rise, over which the country already has jurisdiction, he said.
"We need to be able to monitor all vessels, particularly the commercial ones," he said, adding that these vessels should not intrude in municipal waters intended for small fishermen.
Philippine authorities also have to monitor vessels coming from other countries that might poach the country's water resources, he pointed out.
"But we have to have the legal framework to be able to do this," he said.
Serrano said that one of the significant amendments to the Philippine Fishery Code is the recognition of the need to combat illegal and unregulated fishing.
Allowing fishermen to fish unlawfully brands the country as an “unsavory” source of fish products in the export market, Serrano said, referring to Republic Act 10654.
A lot of markets are fending off fishery products of unknown origin, whether they are poached from other territories or illegally harvested, he said.
"It will benefit us. It is for our own good that we are able to impose discipline on our own fishing industry," he added.
"Whether we like it or not, the fishery sector will become increasingly the dominant sector in our economy."
If the government fails to regulate the domestic fishing industry, it cannot manage such rich fishing grounds as Benham Rise, over which the country already has jurisdiction, he said.
"We need to be able to monitor all vessels, particularly the commercial ones," he said, adding that these vessels should not intrude in municipal waters intended for small fishermen.
Philippine authorities also have to monitor vessels coming from other countries that might poach the country's water resources, he pointed out.
"But we have to have the legal framework to be able to do this," he said.
With
the new law, authorities could monitor all the activities of fishing vessels,
and they could also impose a certification method, he said.
The implementing rules and regulations of the law have been signed by the agriculture secretary and will take effect 15 days after publication in major dailies.
Fishermen’s organizations, which have initiated fish holidays, have complained that the amendments will entail more costs because of the requirement to install monitoring equipment and other facilities.
Despite the strong opposition, Serrano emphasized that the implementation of RA 10654 is the right thing to do.
Republic Act 10654 (An Act to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing) amended Republic Act No. 8550, otherwise known as The Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998. (PCOO News Release)
The implementing rules and regulations of the law have been signed by the agriculture secretary and will take effect 15 days after publication in major dailies.
Fishermen’s organizations, which have initiated fish holidays, have complained that the amendments will entail more costs because of the requirement to install monitoring equipment and other facilities.
Despite the strong opposition, Serrano emphasized that the implementation of RA 10654 is the right thing to do.
Republic Act 10654 (An Act to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing) amended Republic Act No. 8550, otherwise known as The Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998. (PCOO News Release)
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