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Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Espinoza: Marine recovery and growth
By Fred C. Espinoza
Resources. While world leaders are still trying hard to reach a consensus on how to deal with the problem of dwindling food supply from the earth’s vast marine resources, we are glad to receive a good word from one of our interesting contributors to this column, Jose G. Gapas, a former director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in the region.
In his recent tour in the beaches south of the province, he made it a point to look into the status of the government’s efforts to establish fishery and aquatic sanctuaries in the country to enhance marine recovery and growth and increase the catch of small local fishermen.
For most of us who value the preservation of the nation’s patrimony, it would be comforting to know that recent signs still show that the spirit of conservatism is very much alive in this part of the country.
In a three-page report to the Regional Agricultural and Fishery Council (RAFC)-7, Gapas had noted positive benefits and results in the declaration of the area as a fish sanctuary.
“There are new growth of beautiful corals amid the ruins and decay of dead ones; there are new aggregations of new communities of sea urchins, and new growths of seaweeds,” which translate to “a vigorous revival and renewal of an aquatic ecosystem that supports a robust and healthy aquatic life in the reserve,” the report said.
The report, however, cited the need to improve the management of the sanctuary, especially in the installation of buoys.
“Buoys are supposed to indicate the boundaries of the sanctuary, instead of just grouping them in two places.”
More importantly, guards should be manning the guard shed, he said. “At the time we were at the 828 resort, located in Matutinao, Badian, there was no one manning the guard shed,” Gapas said.
He also reported that he had personally collected more than 40 meters length of fish line with hooks at the breakwater, at low tide, within the sanctuary.
Also, he cited a local resident who remarked that sometimes guards caught some poachers in the area but only impose sanctions on poor residents in the area.
Gapas, likewise, tried to emphasize the presence of a commercial fishing boat in the area. “I went to take a dip in the sea at the highest tide at 2 a.m. just before dawn and I observed bright lights, which could only have come from a commercial fishing boat. As a result, he inquired from the RAFC-7 leadership whether commercial fishing vessels are allowed in the Tañon strait.”
“It is very strongly recommended that the RAFC-7 take appropriate measures to assist, implement and monitor the enforcement of Section 81 of the Fish Refuge and Sanctuaries of the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998 in region 7.
Studies and research, Gapas pointed out, indicate that the waters in the Visayas was the richest in fishery and aquatic resources in the world, particularly the sea north of Cebu, until its destruction from dynamite fishing, illegal coral gathering, illegal fishing, like muro-ami, fish poisoning and other illegal activities, the report said.
He argued that an effective program of implementation of Section 81 in region 7 will increase the fish catch of our fisherfolk and improve their lives.
Section 81 specifies that the department may establish fish refuge and sanctuaries to be administered in the manner to be prescribed by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources at least twenty-five percent but not more than forty percent of bays, foreshore lands, continental shelf or any fishing ground will be set aside for the cultivation of mangroves to strengthen the habitat and the spawning grounds of fish.
Within these areas, no commercial fishing shall be allowed.
The law enjoins local government units (LGUs) that at least fifteen percent of the total coastal waters in each municipality will be identified based on the best available scientific data and in consultation with the department.
These should also be automatically designated as fish sanctuaries by the LGUs, in consultation with the concerned Fisheries and Aquatic Management Councils.
Gapas also believes that fishery and aquatic projects can be one of the best investment areas of the LGUs for their development funds as they will benefit a big sector of the population, most of whom, live below the poverty line. It is an investment, which will give back many returns in a few years if properly implemented, the report said.
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (February 7, 2006 issue)
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