05/06/2026
๐ ๐๐ผ๐น๐น๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐ป๐ ๐๐ด๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ ๐๐จ๐จ ๐๐ถ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฉ๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฎ๐ป ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฎ
The observance of the International Day for the Fight Against Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing highlights the continuing commitment of the Department of Agriculture โ Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Region VI (DA-BFAR 6) to protect the Visayan Sea through coordinated enforcement, science-based fisheries management, and collective action against illegal fishing activities.
During the implementation of the Visayan Sea Closed Season from November 15, 2025 to February 15, 2026, DA-BFAR Regions 5, 6, 7, and the Negros Island Region (NIR), together with Local Government Units (LGUs) and partner agencies, intensified efforts to combat IUU fishing through a combination of enforcement operations and stakeholder engagement (See more: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Cn7edFxs3/)
Under the leadership of Regional Director Remia A. Aparri, DA-BFAR 6 intensified its comprehensive on-the-ground and seaborne operations. Over the three months, the collaborative efforts were successfully carried out:
โข ๐ฑ๐ต ๐ท๐ผ๐ถ๐ป๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐ and dialogues with stakeholders;
โข ๐ฎ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฎ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ผ ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐, reaching more than ๐ฎ.๐ฌ๐ณ ๐บ๐ถ๐น๐น๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฎ๐๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ;
โข ๐ฐ๐ฑ๐ฏ ๐ท๐ผ๐ถ๐ป๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ป๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐น ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐; and
โข ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ณ ๐ท๐ผ๐ถ๐ป๐ ๐น๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ-๐ฏ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐, including market and landing denial operations and portside boarding inspections.
Beyond enforcement, DA-BFAR Region 6 continues to strengthen fisheries governance through science-based management and strategic partnerships. During the Fisheries Management Area (FMA) 11 Summit, Regional Director Remia A. Aparri underscored FMA 11's recognition as one of the country's early adopters of science-based fisheries management, integrating research and data into key management decisions while ensuring that fisherfolk remain at the center of conservation and social protection efforts (See more: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1GnVQhKwNp/).
Further reinforcing sustainable fisheries management, DA-BFAR Region 6 and DA-BFAR Negros Island Region formalized a partnership with the University of St. La Salle (USLS) to advance marine mammal conservation and support responsible Blue Swimming Crab fishery management. This collaboration contributes to meeting international fisheries standards, strengthening resource conservation efforts, and promoting sustainable fishing practices in Philippine waters (See more: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BFbKwdH1n/).
As part of its continuing fight against IUU fishing, DA-BFAR Region 6 remains steadfast in addressing priority fisheries threats, including hulbot-hulbot, fine mesh net fishing, trawl fishing in municipal waters, and dynamite fishing. The recent apprehension of individuals involved in dynamite fishing in Concepcion, Iloilo, underscores the Bureauโs intensified enforcement efforts and strengthened inter-agency collaboration to protect marine resources and promote sustainable fisheries for future generations (See more: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BDzNxnYQ6/).