BFAR declares fishing ban at Panatag Shoal

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines has declared its own fishing ban at Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal and surrounding areas to protect marine resources and Filipino fishermen.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) issued Fisheries Office Order No. 143 on Tuesday declaring “a closed season” for both municipal and commercial fishing at Panatag Shoal.

“In accordance with the precautionary approach for the protection and conservation of the marine resources as well as protection of Filipino fishermen from the harsh elements of the upcoming monsoon, the BFAR deemed it appropriate to declare the entire area of Panatag Shoal, otherwise known as Bajo de Masinloc and Scarborough Shoal, as well as the waters within one nautical mile from its margin...closed to fishing from May 16, 2012 to July 15, 2012, until further notice,” BFAR director Asis Perez said in the order.

Perez said all concerned personnel of the BFAR as well as members of the quick response team and the Philippine Coast Guard are directed to implement the order.

Perez added BFAR personnel are also tasked to enlist the assistance of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and local government units for the implementation of the fishing ban.

In line with the implementation of a closed season for fishing, Perez said the head of the Fisheries Resources Management Division of BFAR Regions 1 and 3 and the national office have been directed to conduct a study for additional measures to be implemented to rehabilitate and conserve resources in the area.

China started to enforce its fishing ban covering Panatag Shoal yesterday.

China’s fishing ban will be enforced until Aug. 1.

China’s seasonal ban began Wednesday and is meant to curb overfishing in the West Philippine Sea. But parts of the sea are also claimed by Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan. The sea has valuable fishing grounds and shipping lanes, and is believed to be rich in oil and gas.

Vietnam is also protesting China’s fishing ban in parts of the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) that Hanoi claims as its own.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Luong Thanh Nghi said in a statement posted on the ministry’s website late Tuesday that Vietnam considers China’s decision “invalid.”

Vietnam and China have recently engaged in spats in disputed waters, and a marine standoff between the Philippines and China over Panatag Shoal has gone on for more than a month.

The standoff between the Philippines and China started last month as two Chinese surveillance ships prevented the Philippine Navy from arresting Chinese fishermen caught poaching off the shoal.

Perez said the measure was not necessarily being undertaken to reciprocate China’s move.

“The President has already stated that we welcome the gesture of the Chinese fishing vessels to no longer fish in the area. This is our own way of making sure that we adopt appropriate measures,” he said.

President Aquino said the imposition of a fishing ban within Panatag Shoal is to preserve marine resources, especially the corals.

He said the Philippine Coast Guard had reported discoloration of water in the area that would show that coral beds had been affected.

He said the reports reaching him revealed the corals were damaged, as they had to be lifted to get the giant clams.

Aquino said some of the coral beds could no longer be recovered and so what is left would have to be protected.

This could not be done if fishing in the area would continue.

“The issue on coral beds is a very big issue so fish supply will continue. If you destroy the habitat, you don’t give it the chance to recover, you guarantee that fish (supply) will be depleted,” Aquino said.

“So when the damage of Bajo de Masinloc (Panatag Shoal) was shown to me, it would be natural for us to give it time to recover. So the fishing ban is not because of the government of China but ours, it’s part of our exclusive economic zone. We need to preserve our patrimony and we need to (impose a ban) so our marine resources can recover,” Aquino said.

Perez, on the other hand, said that a study covering the shoal is intended to look at ways to conserve resources in the area.

Based on reports received by the BFAR, he said there are signs of degradation in the area, with pictures showing destruction of corals and discoloration of the water.

Given the signs of degradation in the area, it is important for the government to give attention to it, Perez said.

Since last week, the government has deployed nine payaos or fishing aggregate devices in the municipal waters of Sta. Cruz, Candelaria, Masinloc, Palauig and Iba in Zambales province, as well as in La Union, Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte.

The payao is a fish-aggregating device that would provide marginal fishermen a specific area to catch fish.

The payaos were deployed to ensure that the livelihood of fisherfolk would not be affected by the fishing ban, Perez explained.– With Aurea Calica, AP