DAGUPAN CITY, July 21 -- The local government of Agno town, Pangasinan, has started the process of crafting its Municipal Fishery Code.

In an interview on Tuesday, Mayor John Celeste said this is among his priorities when he assumed office last year in his first term.

He said there were reported illegal fishing activities in the town, including alleged dynamite fishing, and there was no basis for sanctions or fines in the absence of a fishery code.

He said it is essential for the town to have its fishery code, guided by the Philippine Fisheries Code, to empower the local government to manage its municipal waters (up to 15 km. from the coastline) and reserve these fishing zones exclusively for local fisherfolk.

It also prevents overfis...