Govt may stop granting new fishing licenses by 2011

To protect the remaining fish stocks in Philippine waters, the government plans to start imposing a moratorium on new commercial fishing licenses by 2011, the Fisheries Bureau said. "We're still drafting the guidelines. What we plan to do is to ban the issuance of new commercial fishing licenses. But existing license holders can still renew their licenses once it expires," said Fisheries Director Malcolm Sarmiento on Tuesday. The Bureau said the measure aims to protect the country’s remaining fish stocks especially as climate change is expected to affect fish production. Sarmiento said the agency is helping small fishermen to shift to fish farming or aquaculture instead of "hunting," as a way of coping with climate change. The Bureau introduced a campaign that showcases fish farming as an affordable and eco-friendly alternative to fish hunting. "Small fishermen are the most vulnerable sector to climate change. They cannot easily adapt to changing conditions," he said. Fisheries Administrative Order no. 198 states that no person or entity will be allowed to operate a commercial fishing vessel in Philippine waters without a license duly granted by the government. However, no limit was set on the volume of catch. For 2010, the Fisheries Bureau targets an eight percent incremental output. The Bureau is banking on the aquaculture sector to buoy the growth of the fisheries sector this year. Meanwhile, Sarmiento disclosed that two alleged Taiwanese poachers were apprehended off the coast of Aurora in Quezon province. While he did not elaborate on the identities of the poachers and the other details of the case, he said the two were caught red handed by authorities. –VVP, GMANews.TV