CEBU, Philippines - Fifteen ministry officials from Oman, Qatar, involved in fisheries management and enforcement conducted a learning visit in Cebu yesterday.
“We want to improve and widen our knowledge regarding the enforcement of the law of fisheries,” said Oman Ministry of Fisheries official Abdullah Almaway.
Part of their learning visit was about the Monitoring, Control and Surveillance practices which were implemented by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and the local government units with the support of the Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine National Police and at times, military organizations like the Navy.
“We wanted to understand the dynamics of fishery regulations under a devolved and decentralized system of governance, to establish contact with fishery inspectors and enforcers in Central Visayas and a lot more,” the ministry officials said.
The officials took part in the Market Denial Operations of the Provincial Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and Cebu Anti-illegal Fishing task force also known as Team Eskina yesterday night.
Part of their operation is the confiscations of blasted fish so that it will not reach the markets of Metro Cebu and apprehending individuals who will violate the fisheries law.
The 10-day Cebu and Bohol learning visit was funded by the Oman Ministry of Fisheries and Wealth implemented in collaboration with the Coastal Conservation Education Foundation Danajon Bank or Double Barrier Reef of Bohol Island. —/BRP (FREEMAN)