BFAR Caraga leads Oplan Bira in Placer, Surigao del Norte

In its continued quest to curb illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUUF) activities in the region, the Fisheries Protection Law Enforcement Group of BFAR Caraga executed Operational Plan (Oplan) Bira on Friday, June 21, 2019 in the municipality of Placer, Surigao del Norte, which resulted to the confiscation of illegal gears found in some abandoned fishing boats.

The team also inspected two fishing vessels with the presence of the Barangay Captain, who has jurisdiction over the area of incidence.

Ms. Omni Olama, officer-in-charge of the Fisheries Management Regulatory and Enforcement Division, spearheaded an information drive on the Fisheries Administrative Order (FAO) 246-1 (banning of operation of Danish Seine and Modified Danish Seine in the Philippine waters) among the fishing vessel owners in the said municipality.

Likewise, Regional Director Visa Tan-Dimerin in her meeting with Mayor-elect Jovymarie Villazon of Placer, Surigao del Norte, stressed out the Bureau’s intensified implementation of the FAO 246-1.

The team further conducted a consultative meeting with the fisherfolk regarding the presence of modified Danish seine (locally termed as liba-liba) operators in their municipality.

On Saturday, June 22, 2019, RD Dimerin fronted a dialogue with the local chief executive of the municipality of Del Carmen, Surigao del Norte, together with the BFAR provincial fishery officers and representatives from other law enforcement agencies. The commander-in-chief of the Regional Bureau also held a meeting with Congressman Francisco Jose Matugas II, the district I representative of Surigao del Norte.

The Oplan Bira was in coordination with the Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine National Police (PNP)-Maritime Group and the local PNP.