Fisheries code empowers Zambales fishermen

“Wala silang ibang pagpipilian kung hindi gawin kahit mali. Kasi may panahong mahina talaga ang huli ng mga isda sa dagat. Maghapon na sa laot pero uuwi minsan na walang huli, walang maipakain at gastos sa kani-kanilang pamilya,” said Belty Cesar Amlog, 74, a fisherman in Palauig, Zambales for more than 50 years.

Strolling the great, deep blue seas of the Philippine archipelago has been the primary source of living and survival for most of its countrymen, not until the tagged “center of the center of marine biodiversity” woul faced the sudden torture and abuse in a deceptive twist of situations.

Sufferings of the Sea

As per Section 3 of the Republic Act 10654 that amended RA 8550 or the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998, illegal fishing was defined as fishing activities conducted by Philippine fishing vessels operating in violation of Philippine laws, Regional Fisheries Management Organization resolutions, and laws of other coastal states, hence it is also any form of unlawful fishing practices by small and large-scale operators giving grave threats to marine resources, and has been a problem of the Philippine country that lacks for resources in implementing fishing surveillance and monitoring systems.

Also known as blast fishing, dynamite fishing is a highly destructive and illegal method that destroys the marine habitat, making coral reefs shatter, killing marine creatures indiscriminately via blast explosions of dynamites and other explosives that send shockwaves through the water, affecting food security and the fishing community livelihood.

In addition, dynamite fishing was done by throwing a bottle of explosive dynamite onto the water and later on the affected fishes will be picked by a deep dive method of an accomplice, and the fish collected were about to be sold in the market.

Reports have shown in the survey conducted in 2019, 40% of the fish caught came from illegal fishing that amounted to an equivalent of Php 62 billion in annual losses. United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) analyzed the September 2020 workshop with UP Marine Science Institute and Rare Philippines with more than 100 experts participating.

Over the past years, some fishermen were caught fishing illegally on the seas, particularly doing the dynamite fishing practice. Meanwhile, this illegal method of fishing is still a problem for Zambales fishermen, as numerous cases from 2012 were recorded based on the published local news articles, not only weakening the fish catch or having the coral reefs ruined, but also endangering wildlife species like green sea turtles. 

Violating the Code

“Sa tagal na naming nangingisda rito, hindi namin maiiwasang makasalubong o makasaksi ng mga kapwa naming mangingisda sa ibang lugar na gumagawa ng ilegal na paraan ng pangingisda, madalas e paggamit ng dinamita o cyanide sa laot,” said Mang Belty.

Spent almost all of his life years being in a coastal area, exposed to the pricking heat of the sun, trying to save himself from thirst and hunger on a tupperware of packed food and a bottle of water, Mang Belty told his story of fishing as his primary source of livelihood income for his family’s survival of the fittest and paved way for his children up to his grandchildren to acquire and finish education.

“Dahil sa pangingisda, nakapag-aral at nakapagtapos ako ng mga anak ko, at ‘yung mga kinikita ko galing sa pangingisda sa laot ang ginagamit naming panggastos para makaraos sa araw-araw na buhay. Hanggang sa magkaroon na ako ng mga apo, ganito pa rin ang ginagawa ko, pantulong sa gastos din nila sa eskwela kahit may trabaho na ang ibang anak ko,” Mang Belty stated.

Moreover, MAng Belty shared that he once witnessed an illegal method of fishing that happened near in front of them. “Nasubukan namin noon na maganda ang season ng pangingisda, maraming nahuhuli sa laot, kitang-kita namin ng anak ko noon sa harap namin na may nagtapon ng dinamita. Sa lakas ng pagsabog sa loob ng tubig, halos maitaob yung bangka namin at nakita ko na lang na may mga isdang lumulutang na malapit sa pinangyarihan.”

“Hindi lang sa dagat ang mga may pagyanig na mararamdaman kapag may gumagamit ng dinamita, pati na rin dito sa amin na nakatira malapit sa tabing-dagat. Malalaman na lang namin na may sumabog sa laot, akala mo biglang may dumaang lindol sa ilalim,”he added.

Tatay Belty mentioned that aside from dynamite and cyanide fishing, other forms of illegal fishing prohibited in their coastal area called kurokod –  where the holes of gill nets used were small in size causing the small fishes to be caught off.   Illegal fishing causes sabalo to die, a  full-grown milkfish measuring 60 centimeters in length that are endangered and covered by a Fisheries Administrative Order 25 signed 1975 by the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).

“Nasisira ang coral reefs sa loob ng dagat, kaya siguro dahilan na rin ng biglang paghina ng huli namin habang lumalaon,” Mang Belty remarked.

It has been recorded that more than 90 percent of Zambales reefs are classified as threatened, with 70 percent at high or very high risk, due to unsustainable practices such as blast fishing and cyanide fishing that are considered as the largest contributors to coral reef destructions.

Marine Stewards in Action

With these serious matters that affect coastal communities, marine experts are now working to find a way on alternative livelihoods in fishing.

“Sa MSI, ito ang ginagawa namin. We are trying to find ways to teach them to actually, more sustainable in fishing guided by fisheries code,” Dr.  Deo Florence Onda, a marine scientist from UP Marine Science Institute said in a video lecture about marine biodiversity.

Dr. Onda explained that as marine scientists, they were tasked to understand how, where the conflicts and risks came from and going, and what would be the alternative solutions from the research they are working with.

In addition, Dr. Onda became the chief scientist of the project PROTECT WPS (Predicting Responses between Ocean Transport and Ecological Connectivity of Threatened Ecosystems in the West Philippine Sea), funded by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Biodiversity Management Bureau (DENR-BMB), whereas his team conducted a research expedition in the Kalayaan Group of Islands, understanding the threatened marine biodiversity changes that are occurring, and he mentioned that they will do the said expedition this year for its second part.

In previous reports, USAID pointed out that there is a need for a strong, responsive structure to promote fisher compliance to laws and regulations, and eliminating this problematic fishing practice requires a whole-of-society approach guided with science.

BFAR Director Eduardo Gongona shared that the government is finding ways to address the matter through the ongoing development of an IUU Fishing Index and Threat Assessment Tool that is soon to be adopted by the Fisheries Management Areas in Zambales. 

“This tool will provide us with periodic information needed to identify other ways to encourage voluntary compliance, strategically guide law enforcement operations, and communicate our progress in reducing IUU fishing in the Philippines,” Gongona added.

Aside from the marine experts and specialists, the municipal and provincial fisherfolk communities in Zambales are extending their course of action to help conserve, preserve and protect the raging blue seas of their hopes.

Joel Santos, being a fisherman for a long time, had been a member of the Provincial Anti-Illegal Fishing Task Force of Zambales for a term of three consecutive years from 2016-2019, serving and keeping Zambales seas free from harmful and destructive fishing.

“Bilang mangingisda, naging kasapi ako ng task force para sa anti-illegal fishing. Ang gawain doon ay nagroronda kami, mapadagat o dito sa lupa, sa mga market o pamilihan, tinitingnan namin kung may nagtitinda ng mga isdang naputukan [ng dinamita]. Nanghuhuli rin kami ng mga gumagawa ng ilegal na paraan ng pangingisda, nagpapatrol din kami sa laot dahil may mga pagkakataong sumasalisi ang iba na gumawa ng hindi maganda sa laot,” Mang Joel explained. Furthermore, Joel also expressed that municipal areas have also its headquarters that guard the fishery management areas called “Bantay-Dagat” protecting fish sanctuaries.

This article was written by Rose Ann Amlog from Zambales as a final requirement of AYEJ.org and the US Embassy’s “Green Beat Islas: An Online Environmental Journalism Training.“

Featured photo from straitstimes.com