Cebu to buy more patrol boats to curb illegal fishing

• Source: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/500050/news/regions/cebu-to-buy-more-patrol-boats-to-curb-illegal-fishing
• Sunday, June 7, 2015 8:44 pm

By Joel Locsin / JDS (GMA News)

Cebu plans to buy at least two new patrol boats to bolster its campaign against illegal fishing.

Lawyer Czareem Joseph Estella, officer-in-charge of the Provincial Environmental and Natural Resources Office, said the provincial government is planning to buy one patrol boat each for the north and south.

The provincial government said it is also checking the availability of unused patrol boats held by local government units.

Estella said he will sponsor the training of fish examiners who can detect if fish are caught via blasting.

For his part, Governor Hilario Davide III asked fisherfolk to help enforce the Fisheries Code by keeping watch over the waters.

Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) 7 Director Andres Bojos lamented illegal fishing remains despite their training programs.

For his part, Compostela town agriculturist Nestor Campaner suggested added incentives such as cash for fish wardens.

Campaner said this will encourage the fish wardens to perform their duties, adding this has been discussed with the governor.

Cash for work, water storage

Meanwhile, the provincial government is also considering a cash-for-work program backed by the P36-million calamity fund.

It is also considering a water storage facility or little dams.

Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office Chief Baltazar Tribunalo Jr. said the dams could be used for tilapia fishing.

“So this is one strategy to provide emergency cash transfer and at the same time offer a long term solution,” he said.

The province is under a state of calamity due to the dry spell.