San Quintin, ABRA. A new fisheries quarantine checkpoint was established here in Villa Mercedes to aid in the monitoring and control of fish and fishery products entering the province. This has been materialized after the conducted consultative meeting with the fish dealers, local government units and other stakeholders, yesterday.
According to Regional Director Lilibeth L. Signey, “effective April 1, all fish dealers entering the province of Abra shall comply with necessary documentary requirements such as the Local Transport Permit”.
“We will comply with this directive because we see that this intervention will deny entry of those undocumented fish products entering the province and this will be fair for us”, said Nelda C. Dela Cruz, owner of Power of God Fish Dealer.
With the volume of incoming fish and fishery products in the province, the bureau recorded 1,888.98 MT of fresh, dried, and processed fishery products in 2022. A significant data which adds to the total volume of fish production in the province which is 700.28 MT (PSA, 2022) to meet the Abra’s total fish requirement of 5,275.92 MT.
“This is something relevant for the bureau to strengthen our monitoring initiatives as far as entry of fish and fishery products is concerned since the establishment of a Quarantine Station is intended for food safety and traceability purposes. It ensures that only fishery products which are properly documented, not illegally caught and safe for human consumption reach the Cordilleras”, added RD Signey.
Through the Quarantine Station, BFAR will impose strict compliance for the fish dealers to secure their respective local transport permits as required under Fisheries Administrative Order (FAO) 233. The LTP is a permit for domestic movement authorizing an individual to bring, carry, or ship aquatic wildlife, by-products or derivatives acquired from legal sources from the point of origin to the final destination within the country.
A day before inaugurating the quarantine station, a consultative meeting on regulations of domestic/local movement of fish and fishery products was conducted to orient fish dealers, local government units and other stakeholders. Mr Dennis F. De Vera of BFAR Central Office discussed pertinent topics relevant to the domestic movement of fish and fishery/aquatic products as well as relevant guidelines in relation to the trade of regulated species and imported fish in all public markets.
The presence of a quarantine station will monitor and regulate the entry of undocumented fish and fishery products entering the province. An effort to protect the Abrenians against the risk that may harm the public with fish and fishery products that are not safe for human consumption.**FDeVera
