PAG-ASA ISLAND, Philippines, June 16 ----- Fisheries production in the West Philippine Sea has dropped by seven percent between 2021 and 2022 despite being one of the richest fishing grounds in the archipelago, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) confirmed yesterday.
In an interview here, BFAR spokesman Nazario Briguera said that based on Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data, production was down to 275,872 metric tons of fish in 2022, from 295,332 MT in the previous year. “When we say total production in the West Philippine Sea, we are not just talking about Pag-asa Island, we are referring to the total production of provinces fronting the West Philippine Sea,” Briguera said. But the BFAR official was quick to clarify that the decrease in production can be attributed to the typhoons that hindered fishermen from setting out to sea in 2022 and not the maritime territorial conflict in the area. Still, the difference of 19,460 MT is significant, considering that the output from the West Philippine Sea represents 6.36 percent of the country’s total fisheries production in 2022.
Fisheries production from this part of the archipelago covers both the municipal and commercial fisheries sectors of Regions 1 (Ilocos), 3 (Central Luzon), 4-A (Calabarzon), 4-B (Mimaropa) and the National Capital Region. Data from the BFAR also indicate that as of last Jan. 23, there are at least 373,733 fisherfolk that depend on the West Philippine Sea. “The drop in the fisheries production can be attributed to many factors, including the frequent visit of typhoons in the country. If this happens, the number of fishing days for our fishers decreases also,” Briguera said. For now, more than P4 million in assistance was delivered to two fisherfolk associations on this island to boost the fish catch of their more than 80 fisherfolk members.
“The P4-million fishers’ livelihood inputs include motorized boats, basic post-harvest equipment like freezer, ice cooler, ice cube equipment and rain catchers,” Briguera said, noting that the assistance includes training for the fishermen. “We will also provide fish handling techniques to our fisherfolk so that they can preserve the value of their catch so that when they reach the market, the quality is still high,” he added.
The 30-hour voyage of the BRP Francisco Dagohoy to this island to deliver the assistance and conduct the BFAR training coincided with the Philippines’ celebration of its 125th Independence Day anniversary on June 12. Vessels sighted. Before reaching this island Tuesday night, the BRP Dagohoy sighted at least eight foreign vessels, including a Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) ship. Lieutenant Commander Mark Adrias, commander of the BRP Dagohoy, said the eight foreign vessels sighted were outside Philippine waters. “There are sightings (of foreign vessels) but they are far from our planned course,” he said. “Considering the weather, the other foreign vessels decided to secure themselves because of the rough sea condition,” said Adrias.
Adrias said their crew received no radio challenge from the CCG ship or any other vessel throughout their journey on rough seas. “We did not notice other military foreign vessels tailing or shadowing us,” he added. But a source told The STAR that a Chinese fishing vessel was monitored in the radar tailing the BRP Dagohoy. “It was not an ordinary fishing vessel as it approached us at very fast speed, but it ultimately stopped following us at 2 a.m.,” the source said. Yesterday, Adrias said the CCG ship appeared to move nearer the BRP Dagohoy while Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and BFAR personnel were busy unloading equipment for Pag-asa fisherfolk.
Adrias said encounters with the CCG were common when passing through disputed areas of the West Philippine Sea. “Usually, when we are passing, the Chinese Coast Guard, especially in areas they occupy, shadow us, or there are radio challenges.” Paga-asa islanders experience the same incidents when fishing near Chinese-occupied areas. “The Chinese Coast Guard calls their attention when crossing the 12 nautical miles they set,” said Adrias. He said the PCG has no recorded incidents of harassment of fisherfolk in the vicinity of this island recently. “The Coast Guard, the BFAR vessel, the Navy have regular patrols in the area, our feedback is the fishers venturing in the area are OK as there were no cases of harassment,” he said.
Adrias also gave assurance that the PCG has not been letting up on its duty to capture any video footage of such incidents, if any, for the filing of necessary diplomatic cases against violators. “The filing of diplomatic protest is continuous,” Adrias said. “If we cease from filing diplomatic protest, it would show the presence of Chinese Coast Guard is OK, that is why the filing of diplomatic protest is continuous. But the BRP Francisco Dagohoy commander did not elaborate further, saying he could not recall the last incident of harassment against Filipino fisherfolk.?The civilian ship will be on its way back to Puerto Princesa City, Palawan today.
Source: philstar.com
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