BFAR gives 2 patrol boats to province

CEBU, Philippines - The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources has provided two patrol boats to the Province of Cebu to help in its campaign against illegal fishing.

The boats were given by the United States Agency for International Development to BFAR.

Cebu fourth district Rep. Benhur Salimbangon, who heads the House Committee on Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, requested BFAR to donate the boats to the Province of Cebu that has an anti-illegal fishing task force.

In a meeting with Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia and BFAR-7 Regional Director Andres Bojos yesterday, Salimbangon requested that the seawaters of Malapascua Island in his district be prioritized for the patrol boats, although he said the governor will be the one to decide where to deploy the boats.

Salimbangon explained that the island’s famous thresher sharks must be protected from illegal fishing because these are the only attractions to foreign tourists.

Illegal fishing activities are reportedly rampant in northern Cebu.

Salimbangon has been giving boats to some local government units in the fourth district such as the towns of Medellin, Daanbantayan and Bantayan.

But he said they cannot effectively run after illegal fishing activities prompting him to ask BFAR to donate patrol boats to the province.

A memorandum of agreement will be entered into between BFAR and the Capitol during the turnover of the boats.

The Capitol task force against illegal fishing has already assigned patrol boats earlier in northern and southern Cebu since it launched the campaign last year.  (FREEMAN)