DENR establishes fish sanctuaries in Lake Lanao

MARAWI CITY — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources — Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao has established fish sanctuaries and controlled fishing activities in at least 28 lakeside towns in Lanao del Sur as the fish catch from Lake Lanao is now depleted.

Warlito Sanguila, former chancellor of the Mindanao State University College of Fisheries, Naawan, Misamis Oriental, who is now the head of the DENR Lake Lanao management team, said rehabilitation efforts are now ongoing in Lake Lanao following the results of the baseline studies in 2003 which found that out of the 18 species of fresh water fish, only two are left which are also on the brink of extinction.

Sanguila blamed dynamite and electric fishing as the main culprit for the depletion of the fish population in Lake Lanao.

He added that the DENR is now designing a program to utilize the predator fish "kadurog" to help prevent further destruction to smaller species.

However, he said he cannot blame the operations of National Power Corp.’s (NPC’s) hydroelectric plants which utilize the lake’s water, for the reduced fish catch.

In order to replenish the fish species and develop an aquaculture industry in Lake Lanao, similar to those in Laguna de Bay and San Pablo lake, several fish hatcheries and breeding grounds for mass production of the fresh water species "pontius lindok" and "pontius tumba" are now established in at least 15 hectares of Lake Lanao and fishing activities in at least 28 towns are now being controlled, according to Sanguila.

Makil Pangandaman, DENR-ARMM regional director said the DENR will turn over next week to the new ARMM administration the Lake Lanao Environment Management Plan as one of the major documents during the turn over rites of the newly-elected ARMM officials. The DENR has launched here Monday the "Lake Lanao . . . our Lifeline" education and information campaign in coordination with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization headed by Dr. L. Manero and Dr.Ray Bayabos by distributing posters and pamphlets depicting the proper utilization of Lake Lanao, to the representatives of local government units, non-government organizations and community leaders who in turn will distribute the materials to their communities.