‘Only small fishing boats allowed in Panatag’

STA. CRUZ, Zambales, Philippines – A group of Filipino fishermen has been allowed by the Chinese Coast Guard to fish in Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, but only in small fishing boats.

“Small vessels can sail and fish in the shoal but the big ones are not allowed by the Chinese ships stationed in the area,” Oscar Tabat Sr., who returned home yesterday after fishing in the shoal for a week, told The STAR.

Tabat said he and seven other fishermen from a village here sailed to Panatag Shoal last week hoping they could fish freely in the disputed territory.

Six Chinese ships were circling the shoal’s perimeter but were not blocking the Filipino fishermen, according to Tabat.

He said they had no choice but to transfer to a boat with one or two people onboard to fish in the shoal.

“They allowed us to fish in the shoal. If we go closer, that’s the time they would signal to us to go away,” he said.

Tabat said they returned home with a big catch – around 700 kilos of fish such as tanigue, maya-maya and lapu-lapu.

“We are happy that the Chinese allowed us to return to Panatag. At least now, we can have money to pay our debts,” he said.

He said he used to earn P10,000 per fishing trip to Panatag Shoal.

Tabat said around 20 Filipino fishing boats from Infanta and Dasol towns in Pangasinan as well as Subic went fishing in the disputed territory.

Last month, Filipino fishermen resumed fishing in Panatag Shoal following a bilateral meeting between President Duterte and the Chinese government.