The Mayor of Carles, Iloilo, Siegfredo Betita, has expressed his local government unit’s helplessness in the fight against illegal fishing and has appealed for outside help – from the Philippine Navy to be specific. We believe this situation is not unique to Carles. Its neighboring municipalities in northern Iloilo province are likely suffering from the same problem – the continued assault of illegal fishers in their municipal waters that are rich in marine resources. We have relied so much on the sea for our existence – for food, for employment, for energy and for recreation. Thus we must realize that the future of our seas, and that of us humans, relies on how much action we are willing to take today to protect our marine resources.

The future of our seas relies on us. (2019, September 22). Panay News, p. 6.