Local government officials in Oriental Mindoro province are stepping up enforcement of fishing regulations that prohibit commercial vessels from operating within 15 kilometers of the coastline, an area reserved for small-scale fishermen.

The restriction, mandated under Republic Act 10654, intends to protect municipal waters and preserve juvenile fish populations, particularly during designated closed fishing seasons, officials said at a recent marine protection meeting.

During the Oriental Mindoro Marine Protected Area and Fishery Law Enforcement Network meeting, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) attorney Ivan James Vergara briefed local agriculture officers on recent Supreme Court decisions affecting fishing rights and illegal fishing threat assessments.

The gathering at the provincial capitol, led by Provincial Agriculturist Christine Pine, brought together representatives from coastal municipalities, the Maritime Group, Philippine Coast Guard, Malampaya energy project, and Mindoro State University.

LGUs have been urged to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the country, where small-scale fishermen’s livelihoods often compete with commercial fishing operations.

Republic Act 10654, which amended the Philippine Fisheries Code, imposes stricter penalties for violations of fishing regulations and aims to ensure sustainable management of the country’s marine resources.