ZAMBOANGA CITY — The Philippine National Police Maritime Group in the Zamboanga Peninsula is set to form a "Bantay Dagat" team composed of fishermen living in the coastal villages in the region to help the government secure coastal waters against blast fishing and other unlawful fishing acts.

Maritime Police 9 director Pol. Col Salvino Piad stressed that having a Bantay Dagat team in coastal areas will reduce the occurrence of blast fishing and other modes of fishing prohibited under the law.

He added that the role of the Bantay Dagat team is beneficial to the government as they help the authorities secure and prevent the use of dynamite explosive mode of fishing and the team can also security forces keep the community peaceful, as they will report new faces in their community to the security sectors.

"Our fishermen can also play a vital role in our community, let us not disregards them as simply fishermen. They can also contribute to the peace and stability of the community," Piad said.

Meantime, the Maritime Group 9 will continue to educate fishermen on the dangers of dynamite explosives as a means of fishing.

The PNP Maritime Group is mandated to perform maritime law enforcement functions directed towards the suppression of smuggling, poaching, and illegal fishing and  to perform all police functions over Philippine territorial waters and rivers.