City vet seeks police power on fisheries law

CEBU, Philippines - Going beyond mere monitoring, the Cebu City fisheries department is eyeing that their office be deputized by mandated agency to intercept illegal marine resources trade.

“Ang next move namo is to request from BFAR & DENR-PAWB nga e-deputize ang selected staff sa City Hall & also the police. Amo target is have the training by May. Kay para among pahingusgan ang kampanya on both fish & exotic animal trading,” Department of Veterianary Medicine and Fisheries (DVMF) chief Dr. Alice Utlang told The FREEMAN. (We want to strengthen the campaign so we want to be deputized. We’re planning to have the training in May.)

The idea was well perceived by the two agencies, Utlang added, especially right after hosting a forum on Wildlife Act and Fishery Law attended by officials from Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) – Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB) Friday afternoon.

It gathered city government employees including those from DVMF, Bantay Dagat, fish market vendors and even police officials sent by Cebu City Police Office Director Mariano Natuel, Jr.

“This is part of our information campaign to raise the level of awareness on existing laws that protect our wildlife. The attendance of the vendors is very important because it is in their level that these marine resources are shipped from neighboring islands,” Utlang said.

Representing BFAR is its Assistant Regional Director Allan Poquita while DENR’s Mickel Merilles, Sr. also came.

Both agencies laid down which marine resources are legal for trading and otherwise.

BFAR promised to give the city information materials that they can use to explain especially to the vendors for them to know what are those allowed and not allowed for trading under the law, Utlang added.

“Nag offer sad ang BFAR na mag himo ug training seminar sa mga fish vendors to make use if sobra na mga fish sama sa flakes ug uban pa,” she said. (BFAR also offers training for vendors on how to make use of unsold fish.)

Also attending the forum were Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, city administrator Atty. Jose Mari Poblete and market administrator Racquel Arce, among others.

The city veterinarian recognized the fact that their daily monitoring will be useless if they do not hold the police power should their officers chance upon illegally shipped marine resources.

Just last month, DVMF fisheries division was able to detect an illegally shipped manta ray meat from Bohol that led to its confiscation.

The meat was burried at the city-owned pet cemetery. — (FREEMAN)