SAGAY CITY - The problem of illegal fishing within the 32,000 hectare marine sanctuary here is now almost negligible, unlike about a decade ago, Reynaldo Mislos Sr., who is now on his 10th year as member of the Bantay Dagat Sagay Marine Reserve, said.

The SMR has five high-speed motorboats with 32 Bantay Dagat members who regularly conduct patrols the SMR area, assisted either by Sagay policemen or troopers of the 602nd Regional Mobile Group, newly-promoted Supt. William Señoron, Sagay police chief, said.

From a minimum of 10 fishing boats intercepted for illegal fishing a week in previous years, at least one fishing boat has been apprehended every two or three months now, Mislos said.

The Sagay Marine Reserve also covers the islets of Molocaboc and Matabas, Suyac as well as Carbin, Maca and Panal Reefs, as well as the coastal areas of Brgys Himogaan Baybay, Old Sagay, Taba-ao and Vito, where watch towers had been established, manned by the Bantay Dagat members.

Mislos said majority of the violators arrested for illegal fishing in the marine reserve area are usually from the Mambacayao Island in Cebu.

Thirty percent of fines paid by those arrested for illegal fishing within the marine reserve area goes to Bantay Dagat members, he added. Dynamite fishing, and the use of fine mesh nets are among the common types of illegal fishing employed by fishermen in the marine reserve area. Even fish hunting using the "pamana method" is not allowed, and also the gathering of sea shells, Mislos said.

Former Rep. Alfredo Marañon, a marine biologist, had authored RA 9106, an Act known as the Sagay Marine Reserve Law.*GPB

back to top