The provincial and city governments will conduct separate investigations on reported expensive prices of fish by local vendors amid reports that a few businessmen are monopolizing the fishing industry here.

The high prices of fish alarmed Boholanos while visiting tourists commented on "why fish is expensive here when Bohol is known as a fishing village."

Prices of good quality fish in the market could never be as low as P130 per kilo, when it used to be priced at P80 per kilo only.

The Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO) has called an urgent multi-sectoral consultative meeting on Tuesday with the Philippine Coast Guard, the Bohol Environment Management Office (BEMO), Coastal Law Enforcement Council (CLEC), the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), representatives of fisherfolk and fish vendors organizations to come up with recommendations regarding the high cost of fish in the province.

PAO head Liza Quirog called the consultative meeting after first district Rep. Edgar Chatto expressed concern over the frequent discussions and complaints aired over top-rated "Inyong Alagad" program of dyRD about the high cost of fish sold in the markets.

City Mayor Dan Lim bared over his weekly "Mayor's Report" yesterday that all fishing vessels docking at the City fish ports in Sitio Ubos and in barangay Manga will soon be required to secure a license.

In order to control pricing and monopoly in the trade of fish, "fishing vessels will not be allowed to dock at the fish terminal unless they are accredited," Lim said.

Reports reaching the Chronicle revealed that the fish cartel operate off the shores, buying fish from vessels and even small-time fishermen before they could land their catch.

According to the mayor, he is creating an independent committee to study his proposed fishing vessel registration and licensing.

Lim said most of the fishing boats operating here are not owned by Boholanos.

"If they will not cooperate, I will invite investors who are willing to register and practice fair trade here," said Lim.

The low supply caused by the cartel has affected fish vendors who also resort to unfair trade practice such as fraudulent weighing scales, according to Lim.

While there is a need to prosecute the unfair trade practice of big fish compradors, laws requiring commercial fishing boats to maintain sufficient supply for domestic consumption is also needed.

The fishing industry monopoly can likewise be addressed by requiring fishing vessels fishing within Bohol's municipal waters to bring their fish catch here.

Transporting of fish catch outside of the province should first be permitted by either the DA or the BFAR.

However, the Fisheries Code of the Philippines and the Agriculture Fisheries Modernization Act does not provide police powers to the implementing agencies or specify which agencies should enforce fisheries laws.

Under the fisheries code, the "exportation of fishery products shall be regulated whenever such exportation affects domestic food security and production."

SELLING IN MARKETS ONLY

According to Lim, selling of fish should only be allowed in markets in order to monitor its pricing.

Commercial fishers, compradors and middlemen who conduct their trade offshore must be apprehended, the mayor said.

The mayor, who ordered last Thursday the demolition of fish stalls at the city fish port in Sitio Ubos said, all fishing activities must be regulated.