CLEAR-7 supports PAMB

On forced VMS over TSPS

CEBU CITY, March 15 (PIA)—In another move to advance protection and management of the protected areas in the Tanon Strait Protected Seascape (TSPS), an alliance of law enforcement agencies, local government units and non government organizations pushed for support in the institution of a vessel monitoring technology in the area.

Coastal Law Enforcement Alliance in Region 7 (CLEAR-7), a 25-agency membership law enforcement alliance implementing protection measures and sustainable resource management of the TSPS, in a resolution firmed up March 15 expressed its support to the Vehicle Monitoring System (VMS) as a way of keeping track of commercial scale vessels in the area.

During its quarterly meeting held at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Sudlon Lahug, CLEAR-7 through DENR Emma Melana, expertly guided the interagency alliance into passing the resolution of support to the mandatory VMS.

Earlier, the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) also resolved to require all commercial-scale vessels transiting and dropping off anchor or docking anywhere in the protected area to have a functional and approved VMS.    

A VMS is a method or system used to track and monitor the position, course and speed of a vessel at any given time.

Through this, the PAMB believes these fishers would not be tempted to fish in the area as they can be easily monitored.

CLEAR 7 went on saying that non-possession of a functional and approved VMS could be considered a violation of the fisheries cod and other pertinent regulations.

Tanon Strait, the seas located between Cebu and Negros Island, covers approximately 518, 221 hectares is about 160 kilometers long and is bounded by the Visayan Sea in the north, and Bohol Sea in the south and is critical marine habitat and migration path for large marine mammals and cetaceans.

Gifted with 188.3 square kilometers of coral reefs which are home to abundant reef fish, mangrove forests and seagrass beds, the sea has also been identified as a crucial habitat for nautilus shells and its tide flats are feeding grounds for migratory birds.

Fringed by 35 coastal municipalities, 7 cities and 928 barangays whose populations or nearly 30,000 fishers are heavily dependent on fishing, Tanon Strait has also become a target for unauthorized commercial- scale fishing operations, blast fishing, poisoning, destructive fish gears and illegal structures.

Protected under Presidential proclamation 1234, Tanon Strait presents as a tempting fishing grounds for unsustainable fisheries that stakeholders here united to seek aid from the Coastal Law Enforcement Alliance in Region 7 (CLEAR-7) to initiate efforts to implement operation plans to wipe out these issues in the near future.

As the Tanon Strait is also a transiting route, it also has anchoring or berthing and docking can bring commercial fishers in its waters.

And just as the sea which teems with fish and marine resources is so tempting for these fishers, the Tanon PAMB has earlier passed a resolution requiring all commercial scale fishing vessels that transit these waters to possess a functional and approved monitoring technology.

CLEAR also assailed that the protected area rangers do not have many personnel and detection assets to monitor compliance that it emphasized on inter-agency cooperation still.

This drive would attain a potential success if all law enforcement agencies and local government units as well as NGOs cooperate with the PAMB and the designated Protected Area Superintendent in enforcement, the resolution stated.

Along this, by supporting the PAMB move, CLEAR also requests the PAMB and PASu to orient and distribute copies of the guidelines to CLEAR members.

The resolution also requited the Philippine National Police to inform its affected local police stations , offices and support units within Tanon Strait about the guidelines and direct unit commanders to support the PASu in enforcement. (rahc/PIA-7)