LLDA beefs up drive vs illegal fishpens

The Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) has dismantled a total of 100 hectares of illegal fishpens in Laguna de Bay since February as part of its efforts to give a bigger communal fishing ground to small fishermen in Asia’s second largest freshwater basin.

Dr. Jun Ynares III, LLDA general manager, said more illegal fishpens would be demolished as he vowed to intensify his agency’s drive against the over-use of Laguna de Bay by big-time fishpen operators.

Some 28,000 families are dependent on the lake for their livelihood.

The lake, bounded by Metro Manila and the Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) region, produces 400,000 metric tons of freshwater fish, or roughly 70 percent of Metro Manila’s freshwater fish supply.

On top of the LLDA’s demolition efforts, Ynares said several fishpen operators have voluntarily dismantled their lake structures.

LLDA officials met recently with the members of the Federation of Fishpen and Fishcage Operators at Laguna de Bay to come up with measures to address problems like congestion.

During the meeting, Ynares said the lake is heavily stressed and now requires parallel measures to "keep it alive."

The LLDA’s efforts against illegal fishpens are in response to the call of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Angelo Reyes to clear the lake of illegal structures.

"We should bring order and sanity to this chaotic situation in the lake," said Reyes.

He invoked his administrative supervision over the LLDA in ordering the large-scale dismantling and demolition of illegal structures in Laguna de Bay.

Reyes said his call was in line with the directive of President Arroyo "to protect the marginalized fishermen in the lake by providing a bigger fishing ground for them."

Earlier, officials of the Federation of Fishpen and Fishcage Operators at Laguna de Bay brought to Reyes’ attention the rapid deterioration of the lake due to the overcrowding of fishpens and fishcages.

Aside from demolishing illegal structures, Ynares also cited the need for the strict enforcement of environment laws, particularly the Fisheries and Zoning and Management Plan (ZOMAP).

He said only 10 percent of the lake’s 90,000-hectare water surface could be used for fishpens and fishcages.

By decongesting Laguna de Bay of illegal structures, Ynares is confident that small fishermen could enjoy equal fishing opportunities.

"The campaign against illegal aqua-structures has always been in our working calendar and will be sustained despite pressures from big-time fishpen operators. Everybody should be given equal access to the lake’s resources," Ynares said. — Non Alquitran