ABOUT 800 fisherfolk’s livelihood in Medina town in the eastern part of Misamis Oriental has been affected by large-scale commercial fishing boats from Jasaan, Opol, and Gingoog allegedly encroaching on the municipal waters of the town.
In a phone interview yesterday, Raquel Magallanes Dragon, town focal person for the fishery, said that illegal fishing activities occurred on their local fishing grounds because of the absence of Maritime Police patrols along their municipal waters.
Dragon cited Republic Act 10654, An Act to prevent, deter and eliminate fishing, amending Republic Act 8550, known as the Philippines Fisheries Code of 1998, and for other purposes.
She said the law disallows large-scale commercial fishing to harvest fish within the 15-kilometer distance from the shoreline because it has been defined as municipal waters.
Dragon added only the Maritime Police have been given the mandate to apprehend violators of the provision of the Fishery Laws.
She is urging the Maritime Police, based in Balingoan, to conduct regular sea patrols along their municipal waters in Medina to prevent illegal encroachment of commercial fishing boats.
“Kay looy atong mga local nga mangisngisda labi na gayod kadtong mano-mano lamang nga mananagat gamit ang baroto,” Dragon told Gold Star Daily.
A local Medina fisherman, Genero Beronio, Jr, also urged the Maritime Police to address the problem as soon as possible.
“Mahatagan gyud unta sa hinilaling solusyon ang maong problema kay looy kami nga mga gagmayng mananagat,” he added.
