THE Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) has started crafting a comprehensive fisheries development 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, officials said last week.

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."

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Keise T. Usman, secretary of Armm's Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, said a technical working group was recently formed to finalize the comprehensive regional fisheries development plan (CRFDP).

The creation of the technical team was formalized through Executive Order 03 signed last week by Armm Governor Zaldy U. Ampatuan, Usman said.

In essence, the CRFDP will serve as "framework for the protection, utilization, development and management of the region's fisheries and aquatic resources," Usman said.

The formulation of the CRFDP is in compliance to Article 4, Section 7 of the Muslim Mindanao Autonomy Act 86 or the "Armm Aquatic and Fisheries Code of 1999" and the Comprehensive National Fisheries Industry Development Plan (CNFIDP) adopted in 2008.

Nilo S. Katada, acting chief of the region's fisheries resource management office, said the plan seeks the development of commercial captive and capture fishing and inland aquaculture industry in the Armm.

Captive fishing refers to cultivation of high-value sea species such as grouper and abalone while capture fishing includes commercial fishing boats. On the other hand, the inland aquaculture industry in the Armm involves tilapia and carp production.

"The fisheries development plan hopes to address [among others] IUU practices in the region's waters especially by commercial fishing boats. Many are fishing in our waters without paying the necessary fee from our provincial offices, which is only P100," Katada said.

Citing a fresh field report, he revealed that at least seven fishing boats based in Zamboanga City have been accosted in Sulu's water for lack of appropriate documents.

Due to IUU fishing, Katada noted that Armm has inadequate fish catch data needed to ensure a sustainable sea-based fishing industry in the impoverished Muslim region.

For his part Datu Haron U. Bandila, Armm Business Council chair, has lamented that the autonomous Muslim region has failed to benefit from its rich sea resources, citing the lack of support infrastructure in its jurisdiction.

"Unknown to many, 70 percent of tuna catch unloaded in General Santos City is sourced from Armm's waters," Bandila claimed.

General Santos is considered as the "Tuna Capital of the Philippines," due to the presence there of six of the country's seven tuna canneries and dozens of fish processing companies.

Also the backbone of the successful local tuna industry in General Santos is the presence of a modern fish landing complex, sea and air ports, telecommunication facilities and peaceful condition of the locality.

Bandila conceded 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.

"While we have the fish in the waters off Sulu and Tawi-tawi, we don't have storage facilities to support the tuna industry in our region, unlike General Santos City," Bandila added.

He also cited the poor sea and air port facilities as factors to explain why the tuna industry does not thrive in the autonomous Muslim region.

Jolo Mayor Hussin U. Amin has also said those benefiting from the autonomous Muslim region's abundant tuna stocks are outsiders. "Tuna coming to GenSan comes from the seas of Sulu, particularly in the town of Pagutaran," he claimed.

Aside from tuna resources, Amin said the Muslim region is also rich in other high-value fishes like groupers being sold in the markets of China and Hong Kong by local exporters.

Amin said that big fishing vessels have been operating in municipal waters of Sulu, putting small fisherfolk at a disadvantage. (BSS)