BFAR urged to lead fight vs HB 7853

Environmental group Oceana, along with more than 1,100 fisherfolk groups across the country, urged Department of Agriculture (DA) and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to lead the opposition to House Bill 7853 that will allow commercial fishing operations in the country’s municipal waters. “We need to uphold the law and complete the implementation of reforms under the amended Fisheries Code,” the groups said in a joint statement that was sent to the author of the bill, Cebu Third District Rep. Pablo John Garcia, and members of the House of Representatives Committee on Aquaculture and Fisheries. “Instead of supporting the artisanal fisherfolk improve their capacity and efficiency in their fishing efforts that will improve their livelihood and rise above from hunger and malnutrition, they will open up the municipal water to commercial fishing operations. All the efforts to increase production in fisheries while improving the life and livelihood of municipal fisherfolk will lead to nothing,” they further said.