Armm has decided to impose stricter plan in a bid to clamp down on illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing activities in its marine resource-rich seas, particularly the waters off Sulu and Tawi-Tawi. According to officials Armm’s business leaders earlier lamented that a significant volume of tuna species unloaded at the modern fish port complex in this city come from Armm’s waters.
Keise T. Usman, secretary of Armm’s Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, informed that a technical working group was recently formed to finalize the comprehensive regional fisheries development plan (CRFDP). He added that the creation of the technical team was formalized through Executive Order 03 signed last week by Armm Governor Zaldy U. Ampatuan. Usman also told that the CRFDP will serve as “framework for the protection, utilization, development and management of the region’s fisheries and aquatic resources.
It is observed that the fisheries development plan hopes to address [among others] IUU practices in the region’s waters especially by commercial fishing boats. Expert noted that due to IUU fishing Armm has inadequate fish catch data needed to ensure a sustainable sea-based fishing industry in the impoverished Muslim region. It is said that the autonomous Muslim region still has a long way to go before it can be a player in the country’s tuna industry, because it is lagging in infrastructure — besides widespread persistent perception of poor peace-and-order conditions in the area.
