Avoid breeding areas, PBBM tells fisherfolk

LIVELIHOOD ASSISTANCE. Motorized fishing boats will be given away during the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair at Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges in Nabua town on Saturday (Sept. 23, 2023). President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led the national launch of the fair that consolidates various programs and services from different national government agencies in one venue, including the delivery of assistance programs. (PNA photo by Joan Bondoc)

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Saturday clarified that he would not impose a fishing ban on breeding sites, saying he is merely requesting fisherfolk to avoid areas where there is natural propagation.

Marcos issued the clarification in an interview after the distribution of rice to 2,000 beneficiaries in Iriga City, Camarines Sur.

“Hindi maganda ang pagkapaliwanag ko. Hindi fishing ban ang pinag-usapan ko. Ang sinasabi ko, kung saan ‘yung breeding area ng isda, ‘wag tayong mangingisda doon para dumami ‘yung isda. Pero walang fishing ban (I did not explain it well. I was not talking about a fishing ban. What I’m saying is, where the breeding areas of the fish are, let us not fish there so that the fish could multiply. But there is no fishing ban),” he said.

Marcos said he would not impose a ban but merely wants to restrict fishing in breeding grounds to increase the fish population.

“Hindi naman makakapaghanapbuhay ang tao. Padadamihin nga natin yung isda. Kausap ko kanina ‘yung mga mangingisda. Sabi nila talagang nabawasan na ‘yung huli nila (People could not make a living. We have to increase the fish population. I was talking to the fishermen earlier. They said their catch has really decreased),” Marcos said.

In a media interview during a rice distribution activity in Zamboanga City on Tuesday, Marcos said he is considering imposing several restrictions to secure the country’s fish supply.

Marcos emphasized the need to address overfishing and boost the country’s aquaculture and lamented the sector’s challenges, including low catch, because of the destruction of fish breeding areas.

He assured the government is implementing programs to put up more cold storage facilities to prevent spoilage, as he noted that up to 30 percent of fish catch is degraded or damaged.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources earlier said it aims to further boost the country’s fisheries sector to contribute to economic growth.