The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) clarified that the ban on the sale of imported frozen fish products in wet markets existed since 1999.
BFAR Information and Fisherfolk Coordination Unit head Nazario Briguera made the clarification after the agency visited Commonwealth Market in Quezon City on Thursday, November 24, and discovered vendors selling imported fish products.
Briguera said that BFAR launched 'Imported na isda sa merkado, pwede kapag otorisado' information campaign due to Fisheries Administrative Order (FAO) No. 195 Series of 1999.
The order sets the rules and regulations governing importation of fresh, chilled, and frozen fish products.
"Ito ay bahagi lamang nung pagpapatupad nung isang Fisheries Administrative Order na hindi ito bago, matagal na ito," Briguera said on Friday, November 25, during DZRH's Dos Por Dos.
"May mga isda na inaangkat tayo, kaya lang under FAO No. 195, sila ay dapat mapupunta sa institutional buyers. Ibig sabihin yung mga institutional buyers ay yung hotels, restaurants," he added.
Briguera also clarified that the campaign does not target the sale of pampano and salmon in wet markets.
"It is not just about pink salmon or pampano. Nagkataon lamang na nung umikot tayo kahapon, karamihan talaga sa nakita natin doon, particular sa Commonwealth Market, ay itong pink salmon at imported pampano," Briguera explained.
"Pwede naman ang mga isda na imported sa mga wet market kapag awtorisado. Kapag hindi ito awtorisado, walang kaukulang papeles, at hindi ito nasasaklaw ng isang batas na nagsasabi na pwede sila doon, iyon ay kailangan natin pigilan," he further clarified.
BFAR said that the information campaign will run until December 3 before the agency starts to confiscate imported fish illegally sold in wet markets.
