BFAR, Marina ink accord

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) signed recently a memorandum of agreement to streamline the registration, documentation and licensing requirements of pumpboats using handline for tuna fishing operations in General Santos City.

The agreement was signed by BFAR director Malcolm I. Sarmiento and MARINA administrator Agustin R. Bengzon. Pablo B. Casimina, general manager of the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Commodore Euceo E. Fajardo, signed the agreement as witness.

Tasked to undertake the project is a seven-man technical working committee composed of director Nanette V. Dinopol of the Davao Maritime regional office as chairperson and director Gil A. Adora, BFAR regional office XI as vice chairman.

The members of the committee are Henry F. Lugayan of BFAR central office in Quezon City; Roman A. Castro, MARINA office in Davao and General Santos City; Lt. Gilbert Rueras, Philippine Coast Guard in Region XI; George Campeon, BFAR regional office in Region XI; and Carlos Hagosojos, PFDA fishport in General Santos City.

Under the agreement, BFAR will conduct an inventory of existing pump boats in SOCSKSARGEN and Davao and provide MARINA with the list of pump boat owners and operators as reference for registration and licensing; provide fishermen with identification cards; coordinate, with MARINA regarding the registration of pump boats.

MARINA on the other hand, will provide information on the minimum requirements for the registration of handline pump boats which are less than 35 gross tons (GT) including requirements for manning, safety of life at sea and issue special permit for unlicensed officers; and coordinate with the Philippine Coast Guard regarding the issuance of certificate of inspection.

According to Casimina, there are about 2,500 commercial fishing vessels operating in Celebes sea and distant fishing grounds without the necessary registration papers and licenses. Most of these are tuna handline pumpboats which employ some 20,000 fishermen.