Jail term, tougher fines, limited access to others up in town's fisheries code
A comprehensive municipal fisheries ordinance has been passed in Carles, Iloilo which now stands as the "mother of all fishery ordinances" here.
So comprehensive that fishers and officials in nearby coastal towns of Northern Iloilo were reported to have been jolted on the ordinance's early 'aftershocks.'
Now pending before the Committee on Aquatic Resources of the 9thIloilo Sanggunian Panlalawigan (SP), Ordinance No. 2008-04 otherwise known as "Carles Municipal Fisheries Code of 2008" laid down tougher fines and jail terms to violators.
The 64-paged Ordinance began with its policy declaration stating that the need for food security is the primary consideration here.
Carles also wants outsiders to have limited access on its fishery and aquatic resources wanting these "for the use and enjoyment of its common folk." Further still, preferential treatment is given to locals thus the "off-limits zones" to large scale fishing vessels.
Strict enforcement of the fisheries code is up in municipal waters and coastal area zones identified by the Ordinance. Such alongside all aquatic and fishery resources in coastal fishing areas and "all areas devoted to aquaculture or business and activities relating to fishery whether private or public ownership."
Municipal waters as defined by the Ordinance not only include streams, lakes, inland bodies of water and tidal waters within the municipality but marine areas of up to a 14-kilometer radius.
The "use and exploitation" of Carles waters "shall be reserved to residents of Municipality of Carles ," the Ordinance stated.
As such, any entrance for operation of other non-Carles fishers and fishing vessels must secure a permit and pay "entrance fees." Only the mayor can issue the license or permit with a specified duration and other terms and conditions as set forth by the town. Yet not all area assured of this with the town also setting a quota on the number of fishing vessels and fishing gears of "transient operators."
A Marine Protected Area (MPA) of some 50,000 hectares was also tagged as 'Carles waters' translated into "Restricted and No-Take Zones." (See related story)
To oversee the full enforcement and full implementation of the ordinance's underlying provisions, set to be created is the Carles Municipal MPA System Management Council. The town mayor serves as the automatic honorary chair of the Board of Directors and honorary Executive Director.
The "Restricted and No-Take Zones" strictly prohibits all kinds of fishing activities other than scientific researches or educational studies.
The Ordinance further empowers the mayor to issue an Executive Order (EO) for the temporary fishing ban, impose a "closed-season" and further still, "declare an area closed to fishing." Justification here is that continued fishing activity poses a "clear and present danger to the public health or damage to the fish habitat and/or coastal environment."
A maximum 60-day period for said EO action is stipulated in the Ordinance which also empowers the town's council to make such permanent and even closure.
Carles Fisheries Code of 2008 got the unanimous nod of the town's council led by Vice Mayor Rodolfo Dumayas Jr. and by Mayor Arnold Betita.