The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Western Visayas (BFAR-6) has reported a reduction in large-scale commercial fishing encroachment in municipal waters traditionally reserved for small-scale fishers, even after a Supreme Court (SC) ruling allowing commercial operations within the 15-kilometer municipal zone. BFAR-6 director Remia Aparri said the reduction is the result of ongoing monitoring and coordinated enforcement with local government units and an interagency task force. “Before the SC ruling, illegal fishing — particularly encroachment by commercial vessels — was rampant,” Aparri said.

Castor, R. Z. (2026, April 9). BFAR-6 says commercial fishing encroachment drops. DailyGuardian, pp. 1, 11.