THE regional office of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)-Davao Region is set to implement the confiscation of all undersized fish sold in the market and fish landing in the region.
Fatma Idris, BFAR-Davao regional director, said the new program will be dubbed as Task Force Market Denial, which is set to be launched under the new administration. The program is geared towards the preservation of the region's aquatic resources, with the same vision on the closed-season fishing ban in the Davao Gulf.
Idris said the problem of the market denial on closed season implementation remains to be one of the pressing problem in the fisheries sector like the proliferation of undersized fish sold in the local public markets.
"(The) problem with the fisher folk is that they do not understand why there is closed season. They do not accept it, (and) they make excuses not to observe the closed season," she said.
Idris said by addressing the "market denial", it will be one way of saying to the public: "Don't buy undersized fish."
Before the program will be implemented, Idris however said, series of consultation will be staged this year throughout the region to draw support from the local government units. The program is the first of its kind in the country.
This is also from the initiative of the region, eyed to be replicated throughout the country, which aims to conserve biodiversity.
"Yes, maybe buying undersized fish is much cheaper but that is not saving our fish and biodiversity. The main message of this program is not to patronize undersized fish at all times," she said.
Idris said no penalties will be charged against violators but intensified confiscation will be implemented. The seized fish products will also be donated to the public.