Both committed to strengthen monitoring of municipal waters and protect them from illegal fishing.
“LMP serves as a forum for crystallizing and expressing ideas, seeking necessary technical assistance from national government agencies, and providing a network for the promotion of the welfare of the municipalities. We welcome Oceana’s partnership to support the LMP in protecting marine biodiversity and restoring the abundance of our oceans,” said Mayor Luis “Chavit” Singson, LMP National President.
In last year’s General Assembly, Oceana and LMP jointly launched Karagatan Patrol, an online platform for mayors, law enforcers, and citizens to share information and to report illegal commercial fishing in municipal waters. It informs the public of news, leads, or information provided to law enforcement agencies – local government units, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, the Philippine National Police, PNP Maritime Group, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Navy, and the National Coast Watch Center.
“LMP is committed to protect the natural resources of our member-municipalities. Illegal and unregulated fishing remain to be the scourge in many coastal communities. The most common violations include intrusion of commercial fishing vessels in municipal waters, the use of dynamite fishing, and the use of poison in fishing. Other violations, such as use of fine mesh nets, destruction of marine habitat, poaching, illegal trade of aquatic wildlife species, and marine pollution remain as concerns in certain parts of the country,” said Atty. Cynthia Falcotelo-Fortes, LMP Secretary General.
“Oceana’s renewal of partnership with the League of Municipalities of the Philippines is very timely as we press for enhanced efforts to address overfishing, partly the result of Illegal fishing taking place in municipal waters. Apart from destroying our fragile marine ecosystems, this has caused declining fish population and thus, displacement of poor artisanal fishers from their traditional fishing grounds,” said Atty. Gloria Estenzo Ramos, Vice President of Oceana.
Oceana is an international advocacy organization dedicated to protecting the world’s oceans.
