Western Visayas nets 86 illegal fishing violators

By Mariela Angella Oladive

Anti-illegal fishing operations across Western Visayas led to the apprehension of 86 violators in the first six months of 2026 as authorities intensified enforcement against illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.

Data presented during the June 25 second-quarter meeting of the Regional Inter-Agency Task Force Against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing showed that enforcement teams conducted 859 seaborne operations from January to June.

The task force also conducted 46 portside boarding inspections, 31 market denial operations, and three landing denial operations during the period.

The operations focused on five priority violations: hulbot-hulbot fishing, trawl fishing, the use of fine mesh nets, dynamite fishing, and the operation of undocumented commercial fishing vessels.

The enforcement campaign resulted in 86 apprehensions, four criminal cases filed in court, and about PHP 660,000 in fines collected from violators.

RIATF-IUUF Chairperson Remia A. Aparri, regional director of the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, said the accomplishments reflect stronger coordination among agencies tasked with protecting the region’s fisheries resources.

“We will work together. I know we have different perspectives, but if we remain committed to our shared direction toward sustainable fisheries, food security, and fish sufficiency, we can move forward together effectively,” Aparri said.

During the meeting, task force members also received an update on the status of the country’s blue swimming crab fishery from Sheryll V. Mesa, regional leader of the National Stock Assessment Project.

Mesa said BFAR continues to implement measures to address existing United States sanctions on Philippine blue swimming crab exports while promoting sustainable fisheries management.

The United States’ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has been reviewing comparability findings for swimming crab fisheries from several countries, including the Philippines, in connection with marine mammal protection requirements.

Recent industry reports said the Philippines is weighing new gillnet rules for the blue swimming crab fishery as it seeks to address U.S. import restrictions tied to marine mammal protection standards.

The task force committed to sustain joint enforcement operations and intensify efforts against illegal fishing to protect fisheries resources and the livelihoods of coastal communities across Western Visayas.