BFAR-Batanes builds own boat vs poachers

MANILA, Philippines - While awaiting the delivery of two 40-footer patrol boats from the national government, the office of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Batanes is building its own boat to fight off poachers in Balintang Channel.

The patrol boat, worth P1 million, is patterned after Taiwanese fishing vessels seen around Balintang Channel, said Angel Encarnacion, BFAR provincial officer.

Encarnacion expressed hope their boat would be operational by next month.

At present only one 40-footer BFAR patrol vessel is protecting the country’s northern seaboard from her homeport in Sta. Ana, Cagayan.

The BFAR vessel is currently in the waters off Itbayat town, where foreign vessels were often spotted conducting illegal fishing and poaching operations.

Encarnacion said aside from the Taiwanese, Vietnamese and Chinese fishermen were also regularly monitored inside the country’s maritime domain in Batanes.

“We are expecting the arrival of two 40-footer vessels. Once these are delivered, we will have three vessels to enforce our maritime and fishery laws,” Encarnacion said.