Color of donated boats a headache to anti-illegal fishing campaign

CEBU, Philippines - The boats painted with uniform color donated by various organizations to typhoon victims in northern Cebu have become a headache to the Province of Cebu’s campaign against illegal fishing, the author of the Provincial Fisheries Code said yesterday.

Provincial Board Member Thadeo Ouano said the Code provides for the color coding of paddled and motorized fishing boats in each of the local government units.

Although the Code is not yet fully implemented since the previous administration, Ouano said this color-coding policy enables the Bantay Dagat and other authorities to easily identify the origin of the boats caught doing illegal fishing.

“Kung naay color coding, ma-identify nimo taga diin na sige pang dinamita,” said Ouano.

The Code also provides the holding of Fishery Week at the end of May of every year.

Ouano has called on Governor Hilario Davide III to fully implement the Code.

Capitol head of the Cebu Provincial Anti-Illegal Fishing Task Force, Anthony Loy Madrigal, said the color-coding scheme was already discussed in one of their meetings with the local officials.

While it is true that the donated boats have uniform color, Madrigal said they will find ways to put marks representing place of origin.

“Gasto na kaayo kung ato pintalan ang tanan. Butangan nalang og rebeti nga kana siya taga diha na nga lungsod,” Madrigal said.

Ouano said the code does not designate any color for a particular town or city.

He said that it is the Office of the Governor who will designate the color per LGU when the Code is implemented.

Sometime in 2011, the color-coding scheme was also brought up in the Regional Peace and Order Council to monitor violations of Maritime laws and local ordinances by sea vessels in Central Visayas.

In this scheme, a pump boat is mandated to label according to its province of origin to enable the Philippine Coast Guard and other maritime authorities to easily monitor the vessel’s voyage as well as its permit, whether for fishing or passenger transport. —/JRS (FREEMAN)