AGRICULTURE Secretary Emmanuel Piñol on Tuesday promised livelihood support for fisherfolk if they stopped their illegal fishing activities, but he also called on local government officials to rein in illegal fishing in their areas.

Speaking before the fisherfolk of Marinduque, Piñol, who vowed early on to curb illegal and unsustainable fishing practices in the country’s fishing grounds, urged fishers to abandon illegal fishing in exchange for livelihood assistance from the government.