Mandaue bans fishing by non-city residents
-A A +AMonday, February 18, 2013
THE Mandaue City Council has approved an ordinance establishing a local fishery code.
The ordinance bans fishermen who are not residents of Mandaue from fishing in the city’s seawaters.
“We are happy that the measure was approved. We expect this to help our local fishermen get more catch and increase their income,” Councilor Jimmy Lumapas, proponent of the ordinance, said in an interview yesterday.
The council passed the measure during its regular session last Feb. 6.
The ordinance aims to protect rare, threatened and endangered marine species. It also regulates the operation of fish pens and other structures where fish and other marine products are cultured.
It penalizes fishermen who use explosives, fine-mesh nets and active fishing gears like trawl and purse seines.
Other banned activities are exporting corals; Muro-Ami and other fishing methods that destroy coral reefs; fishing in overfished areas during closed season; fishing in fishery reserves and sanctuaries; and gathering and marketing shells.
The fines range from P500 to P5,000. A task force will be created to enforce the ordinance.
Color coding
The City will establish a color coding system for fishing vessels. Fishermen should also register with the City Agriculture Office.
“We are now working with officials of Consolacion and Lapu-Lapu to establish our territorial waters,” Lumapas said.
The need to delineate the seawater boundaries of the three local government units was raised during a public hearing last Jan. 31.
Lumapas said the City is now in the process of acquiring a speedboat for the anti-illegal fishing task force.
The City has allocated P900,000 for the speedboat.
In an earlier interview, Lumapas said he pushed for a local fishery code to protect the city’s fishermen.
He said fishermen from other areas encroach on the city’s seawaters, leaving local fishermen with fewer catch. These fishermen often use advanced fishing gears.
There are about 200 fishermen in Mandaue, according to the City Agriculture Office.
Out of the 27 barangays, only eight has a fishing ground.
Lumapas said the ordinance will take effect 10 days after its publication in major newspapers.
Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on February 18, 2013.
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