Seaborne Patrol Operations are regularly conducted by the joint forces of Pilar Municipal Police Station, the Maritime Police, the Office of Municipal Agriculture and Bantay-Dagat along the municipal waters to protect the waters from illegal fishing activities which are detrimental to the sustainability of the fishery resources as well as possible illegal entries to safeguard the waters of Pilar and its borders.

 

On August 20, 2021, in a spot report of PNP-Pilar Municipal Police Station, joint forces of PNP led by PSSg Jefferson Carrasco under the direct supervision of PMAJ Mark Anthony M Ferwelo, Chief of Police, and LGU-Pilar’s Office of the Municipal Agriculturist Personnel and Bantay-Dagat led by Mr. Avi Arisapa , the seaborne patrol conducted have caused the apprehension of three (3) fisherfolks from Donsol, Sorsogon in the seawater of barangay San Antonio (Sapa), Pilar, Sorsogon as having violated Municipal Ordinance No. 2020-02-E Sec. 60(4) otherwise known as “Revised Comprehensive Municipal Fisheries Ordinance of Pilar, Sorsogon, Providing for the Sustainable Management Development and Conservation of the Municipal Wa5ters and its Coastal Resources, Harmonizing and Integrating all Ordinances pertinent thereto, and for other purposes.” Section 60 of this Ordinance emphasizes Failure to Register Fishing Vessel.

 

Confiscation of pieces of evidence from the apprehended fisherfolks are one unit 7H fishing boat, fishing gears (hook in line or “pakitang”) and 3 kilos of assorted fish. Market value was estimated as P26,450. These are under the custody of the Bantay-Dagat and shall be redeemed by the concerned fisherfolks upon payment of P1,000.00 as penalty for such violation.

 

Mr. Chito Morris, AT on Fisheries of the Municipal Agriculture Office expressed hopes of sustaining anti-illegal fishing campaigns, including the registration of fishing boats used by the fisherfolks in their day-to-day fishing activities. He disclosed the results of the seaborne patrol operations in the past with apprehensions of 16 violators of Municipal Ordinance No. 2020-02-E Section 60(4),on Failure to Register Vessel, 3 violators under Section 60 (6) on Failure to Obtain Registration /License/Permit which also includes engaging in unauthorized fishing or fishing without the Proper Registration/ License/Permit and 2 violators under Section 6 ( on the Violation of the regulatory and prohibitory provisions on the use of buffer zone in the sanctuaries which also includes fishing in the Marine Sanctuary.

 

For all these initiatives from the team, the Local Chief Executive, Hon. Carolyn C. Sy-Reyes appreciated their dedication and passion in conducting the much-needed seaborne patrol operations in order to ensure that marine resources are protected to make it sustainable in the preservation of the rich marine resources of Pilar and the life-enhancing environment for every Pilarenio. (Pilar PIO)