Operators ask GMA to stop demolition of fishpens in Laguna Bay

The massive destruction of fish cages in Pangasinan brought about by typhoon Cosme prompted fishpen operators in Laguna de Bay to appeal to President Arroyo to postpone the demolition of their fishpens “until the government develops alternative sources of fish.”

“In the light of the current Philippine situation, where we are experiencing rice and food shortages and the compounding rise in the cost of fuel and electricity, it would indeed help if government stop the demolition of fishpens and fish cages which are major sources of cheap bangus and tilapia, until such time that the government can show the development of alternative areas devoted to aquaculture,” said retired police Director Marino Filart in his two-page letter to President Arroyo dated May 15.                

Filart, head of the Federation of Fishpen and Fishcage Operators Associations of Laguna de Bay warned of a severe fish shortage should the Department of Environment and Natural Resources pushes through with its “zero fishpen policy” in lakes all over the country.

DENR Secretary Lito Atienza has vowed recently to demolish all fishpens in Laguna de Bay.

However, early this week typhoon Cosme battered Pangasinan destroying fish cages and ponds and hurting the province’s milkfish industry. Reports pegged total losses in Pangasinan alone at P457 million.

Filart pointed out that Laguna Lake alone produces some 45,000 to 50,000 metric tons of fish.“Without replacement, we may experience ballooning prices in the cost of fish which is now probably the only affordable food for the poor,” he said.

He said that it will take bangus fishpond owners in Pangasinan not less than two years before they can recover and arrive at production levels before typhoon Cosme and this will have a grave implication on the prices of fish in the market.

The foremost reason given by Atienza to demolish fishpens in Laguna Lake is that they are the main cause of pollution in the body of water, which Filart and his group strongly disagrees.