LAGAYAN, Abra (PIA) – For voluntarily surrendering banned fishing gears,  56 fisherfolk here received new set of fishing equipment from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resource (BFAR).

BFAR-Cordillera Regional Director Dr. Lilibeth Signey, Lagayan  Mayor Edmarc Crisologo, Provincial Fishery Officer (PFO) Janet Daguio and the personnel of Municipal Police Station  recently organized an awarding program and public disposal of the surrendered  illegal fishing gears that  include  a pile of dry cell batteries, electric generators, electric shock rods and other illegal fishing paraphernalia.

The fisherfolks were given  new fishing nets, floaters, straw and nylon wires.

Signey  praised  the 56 fisherfolks  from Collago and Pang-ot for surrendering voluntarily the electro-fishing gears.

 “I appreciate it very much na nag-surrended kayo kay Mayor at PNP. Papalitan natin ng environmental-friendly fishing gears yan and I hope na itong binigay namin ay makakatulong sa pangingisda niyo dito sa Abra River,” she said.

Mayor  Crisologo emphasized the crusade  the LGU against illegal fishing activities in their town even passing a local ordinance penalizing violators.

 “Ito na ang panahon na kailangan nang tanggalin ang pangunguryente bilang traditional na pangingisda dito sa Lagayan, napalitan na ito ng legal at mas healthy na pangingisda,” Crisologo stressed.

Fisherfolk Rexie Medrano  shared in an interview that  residents  in their barangay are actually farmers. However, when their crops  were  damaged by typhoons, they engaged  in electro-fishing as alternative source of food and livelihood.

“Pumunta ang mga kapulisan sa amin at pinaalala na maraming mga maliliit na isda ang mamatay pag gagamit kami ng kuryente kaya nahikayat nila kami na isuko nalang ang mga electric gears namin,” she said.

 Medrano, thanked the BFAR and the LGU for  giving them  new equipment instead of penalties for their   violations.

 Section 92 of Republic Act  10654 or “An Act to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing, Amending Republic Act No. 8550, otherwise known as "The Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998”,  unregulated fishing through explosives, noxious or poisonous substance, or electricity is punishable upon a summary finding of administrative liability, with P30,000.00 fine for municipal fishing. (JDP/CAGT – PIA CAR, Abra)