IUU fishing remains a pressing problem in the Philippines which is a party to international fishing agreements, a major fish producer, and a global marine biodiversity center. Now the Philippines Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) have confirmed their commitment to combat IUU fishing, following the launch of a new fishery law enforcement tool and the presentation of the key findings of the national IUU fishing assessment report.
BFAR Officer-in-Charge Isidro Velayo, Jr. and USAID Philippines Environment Office deputy director Thomas Kaluzny shook hands in a commitment ceremony between the Bureau and the Agency on the International Day for the Fight against IUU Fishing.
This also set the formal launch for Fisheries Sharing Hub on Investigation, Enforcement, Litigation and Detection System (FishSHIELDS), which the Bureau co-developed with another USAID project, the Sustainable Interventions for Biodiversity, Oceans and Landscapes (SIBOL).
FishSHIELDS provides a platform for the operationalization of enforcement response on IUU fishing incidents and reports, and gives fishery law enforcers digital tools to address illegal activities in the country’s waters.
Key findings were presented from the 2023 Philippine IUU Fishing Report, derived from the Philippine IUU Fishing Index and Threat Assessment Toolkit (I-FIT), which underscore the urgent need for continuous monitoring and robust policy measures to address the scale and nature of IUU fishing threats effectively. I-FIT is a suite of tools for assessing, analyzing, and planning responses to IUU fishing in the country which USAID, through its Fish Right Program, co-developed with BFAR.
‘I-FIT and FishSHIELDS are just two of the various fruitful outcomes of the collaborative relationship between the DA-BFAR and USAID, through the Fish Right and SIBOL Programs. Both tools strengthen the government’s capacity to reduce risks to illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, and we are presently mainstreaming their use in our regular operations, as well as other official development assistance such as the Philippine Fisheries and Coastal Resiliency Project or the FishCoRe,’ said BFAR OIC Director Sid Velayo.
Common violations in the Philippines include the use of fine mesh nets and fishing without registration.
‘USAID is proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Philippine government in the fight against IUU fishing. Together, we are committed to fostering a future where our oceans are vibrant and teeming with life, supporting not only the environment but also the economic well- being of the people,’ Thomas Kaluzny said.
