New marine reserve, fish sanctuary up in Northern Iloilo
A new marine reserve and fish sanctuary has been identified and established in one Northern Iloilo town.
The proposed protected area is a marine habitat inside the 129-hectare site east of Nueva Sevila, Barotac Viejo, Iloilo .
As such, the marine reserve cum fish sanctuary will be protected from all fishing methods deemed destructive particularly on the sea grasses here.
Among the identified prohibited methods are dynamite fishing, hulbot-hulbot, trawl or such variation. Also banned here is the spear fishing using a compressor, use of cyanide and other poisonous substance.
The preserved site is subject of Municipal Ordinance No. 2009-03 submitted to the 9thIloilo Sanggunian Panlalawigan (SP) for approval.
Further still, a “buffer zone” was set up outside the actual sanctuary and marine reserve that will allow traditional fishing methods. Said “buffer zone will permit small fishers using the hook and line method, gill net without the “tumbok” and even spear fishing though without compressor.
Penalties or imprisonment await violators.