The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) on Monday assured its continuous monitoring, control and surveillance of the country’s waters to counter illegal fishing attempts of groups or individuals trying to take advantage of the present situation amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. In a statement, the BFAR said several apprehensions have been made by the agency’s Regional Fisheries Resources Protection Groups, the Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine National Police–Maritime Group in the last two weeks amid the implementation of enhanced community quarantine all over Luzon and lockdown of several cities and municipalities. With the lockdown in place, fishing activities have been exempted from the quarantine period in order to continuously supply fisheries products to Metro Manila and its vicinities. According to BFAR, the most common violation recorded is the possession and operation of modified Danish Seine or hulbot-hulbot prohibited under Fisheries Administrative Order 246 and 246-1, series of 2018.
