The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform, together with the PNP Maguindanao Maritime Group and Cotabato City LGU, conducted a joint seaborne patrol operation, market and landing denial in the coastal areas of Maguindanao del Norte and Cotabato City.
The Monitoring Control and Surveillance Section (MCSS) under the Fisheries Regulatory and Law Enforcement Division (FRLED) led the activity on April 2-5, 2024
Monitoring Control & Surveillance/ Seaborne patrol like this are part of the strengthening effort of the MAFAR Fisheries Services to combat Illegal, Unreported, Unregulated Fishing (IUUF), a global problem threatening ocean ecosystems and sustainable fisheries.
IUUF directly threatens food security and socioeconomic stability in many parts of the world, especially developing countries like the Philippines, where fisheries resources are pillars for food security and export income are most at risk.
Some examples of IUUF, are:
1) Fishing without a license or quota for certain species.
2) Failing to report catches or making false reports.
3) Keeping undersized fish or fish that are otherwise protected by regulations.
3) Fishing in closed areas or during closed seasons, and using prohibited fishing gear.
Conducting unauthorized transshipments (e.g., transfers of fish) to cargo vessels.
