IDLE. Fishing boats remain idle due to the threat of an oil spill at a coastal village in Rosario, Cavite on July 30, 2024. Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Spokesperson Nazario Briguera on Wednesday (August 14, 2024) said that a premature lifting of the fishing ban in Cavite may pose a hazard to public health. (PNA photo by Joan Bondoc)
MANILA – The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said Wednesday that a premature lifting of the fishing ban in Cavite province concerning the effects of the oil spill may pose a hazard to public health.
“Ang makukumprumiso rito iyong kaligtasan ng publiko kasi kung may bakas pa ng grasa at krudo ay hindi ito ligtas sa kalusugan ng publiko (The safety of the public will be compromised here because fishes will not be safe for consumption if there are still traces of oil and grease),” BFAR Spokesperson Nazario Briguera said in a press conference.
The warning was issued amid calls by fishers’ group, Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya), to lift the fishing ban affecting eight coastal areas in Cavite.
“Hindi pa po natin inirerekomenda ang pag-lift ng fishing ban doon sa (We are not yet recommending the lifting of fishing ban in) Cavite province based on the results of our laboratory analysis,” Briguera added.
As of Aug. 7, around 28,373 fishermen are affected in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and Calabarzon. The highest number of affected is in Cavite at 26,090 fishers in Bacoor City, Cavite City and the towns of Kawit, Maragondon, Naic, Noveleta, Rosario, Tanza and Ternate.
The BFAR has earlier assured interventions including the distribution of PHP3,000 worth of fuel subsidy per fisherfolk, relief packages, and preparations for the possible delivery of alternative livelihood.
Fish scare
Briguera, meanwhile, allayed the concerns of consumers on the safety of available fish in local markets.
“Wag po tayong matakot dahil tayo naman po ay may abiso kung ano iyong mga lugar na nahuhuli sa particular fishing ground ay hindi muna pwedeng konsumuhin ng publiko (Let’s not fear because we have advisories on what marine produce in particular fishing ground are not safe for public consumption),” he said.
“Ang BFAR po ay pinakikilos lahat ng mekanismo para masiguro natin na lahat ng isdang dumarating sa palengke ay ligtas (The BFAR is activating all its mechanism to ensure that all fish available in local markets are safe),” he added, citing continuous conduct of sensory evaluation in fish samples and stringent monitoring in fish landings.
Sampled fish and shellfish from the provinces of Bataan, Bulacan, Pampanga, Batangas, and Metro Manila including Navotas, Parañaque, and Las Piñas are free from oil and grease contamination making them safe for human consumption, according to BFAR.
Briguera also assured a stable supply of fish in the country despite the effects of the Bataan oil spill.
As of April, the projected annual fish sufficiency level of the Philippines for 2024 is set at 91.6 percent, according to the BFAR.
The Department of Agriculture (DA), however, eyes to import 30,000 metric tons (MT) of fish with the target arrival in October in time for the closed fishing season, which is lower than the 45,000 MT of fish imports last year.
“Ang narinig ko kay Secretary (Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.), hindi naman kailangang ganung karami na isda kasi (What I’ve heard from the Secretary, we don’t need that high volume of fish) relative to our fish catch, and relative to our inventory, we don’t need that much,” said DA Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa in a separate interview.
The closed fishing season is implemented every Nov. 1 to Jan. 31 to restore the country’s fish populations, particularly commercial fish species. (PNA)
