Why can't we light up those darn lampposts?

Illegal fishing is still rampant in Central Visayas, according to Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources fisherfolk regional director Pepe Beredo.

During the Association of Government Information Officer Forum yesterday, Beredo said dynamite fishing has become a way of life for some fishermen in the region.

"Our campaign has been on but it is not yet completely stopped. A paradigm shift is needed to solve the problem," Beredo said.

Aside from dynamite fishing, Visayan Sea Squadron Team Leader Antonio Oposa confirmed that he had received intelligence reports that some local officials are receiving protection money from owners of destructive and commercial fishing boats. He, however, refused to name names.

Oposa said some commercial fishing boats are still fishing in prohibited areas but no arrest has been made because of the protection money given to local officials.

Because of this, he said they would be doing surveillance operation on these local officials and commercial fishing boat owners who are violating the prescribed borderline of 15-kilometer no-fishing zone.

"We will arrest them and we will also do a background check on the owners if they have paid taxes or not and we will slap them with charges. We have tied up with the Bureau of Internal revenue regarding this matter," he said.

Oposa said they would ask the Philippine Navy on Monday to assign well-equipped gunboat that will patrol the Visyayan Sea against illegal fishing.

Pursuant to the law, at least 15 percent of the municipal waters of the Visayan Sea must be set aside and devoted to a fish or marine sanctuary as stated in Section 81 of Republic Act 8550.

Studies showed that the Visayan Sea is now a poor replica of its old self where more than 80 percent of the municipalities bordering its shores have become wretched and miserable because of destructive fishing.

Because of this, marine resources of the Visayan Sea are now facing a total collapse.

The Visayan Sea, which has an area of about one million hectares, lies at the heart of the Sulu-Sulawesi eco-region in the apex of the fabled Visayan Marine Triangle, a protected eco-region.

Studies showed that if the Visayan Sea is sustainably managed, it could feed the entire Filipino people the whole year around. - Jasmin R. Uy/LPM