A determined effort by the local government of Isabela City in Basilan Province to protect its waters is beginning to pay off. Barely a month after it was created, the Isabela Law Enforcement Team (IsLET) apprehended nine illegal fishers west of Malamaui Island, between Barangays Lampinigan and Panigayan, last September 5.

The fishers were caught using a compressor and fine mesh nets, equipment banned in the municipal waters. They were brought to the PNP Maritime Office for the filing of charges and all of their fishing gears were confiscated.

The city’s bantay dagat team has been going after violators since the enactment over a year ago of an ordinance prescribing penalties for violations of fishery laws, including overfishing and the use of destructive fishing practices. Local fishermen have stuck to the use of hook and line (pasol) and squid jig (ulang-ulang) to sustain the fish population in their waters.

The patrols were intensified when the IsLET was formed last August 9, during an enforcement action planning workshop facilitated by USAID’s Philippine Environ-mental Governance (EcoGov) Project. The team is composed of city officials and members of the PNP and PNP Maritime, the Coast Guard, Army, Navy, DENR, barangay captains and bantay dagat members.

Fishery law enforcement complements the establishment of a Marine Protected Area (MPA) in Barangay Lampinigan where the taking of fish and other marine animals are prohibited. Local fishers, particularly in barangays Lampinigan, Kumalarang, Sumagdang and Balatanay which are adjacent to the MPA have reported an increase in the catch and sizes of fish over the past few months. They attribute this to the existence of the MPA and the enforcement activities.

Encouraged by the results, Brgys Panigayan and Lukbuton are planning to likewise establish a marine sanctuary in their area. A public consultation conducted last month showed that there was a clamor for an MPA among community members. Isabela City is one of 14 local government units in Western Mindanao implementing marine sanctuary plans, with technical assistance from the EcoGov Project and the DENR.

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