Blast fishing in Bohol towns continues

GETAFE, BOHOL, Philippines  — Dynamite fishing off this northernmost town, which is a part of the fragile marine biodiversity of Danajon Double Barrier Reefs, was found to be still unabated despite massive campaign against the destructive fishing methods.

This came following a reliable report that a marine protected area (MPA) of Barangay Handumon of Jandayan island off here was blasted with a dynamite during the annual fiesta of this town last January 28.

The source, who asked not to be named, said that despite the incident no one seemed to care about it because it was not immediately reported to the authorities or the police.

A barangay official also confirmed in phone interview that dynamite fishing occurred at the MPA during the fiesta, and he suspected that the perpetrators were from nearby island of Banacon. He said they were armed and that he knew one of them although he declined to identify him.

The official also confirmed that hundred kilos or more of fish were harvested as a result of dynamite fishing. He and a fellow resident later checked the blasted area and found a big hole on the sea floor, indicating that a blast really happened in the site.

Town policeman SPO3 Anelito Torreon, in a separate interview, said the dynamite fishing on fiesta day was not recorded in the police blotter and he surmised that nobody could have reported it to the police.

The barangay official however said that a resident actually reported the blasting to the police but was allegedly told only that they were busy securing the feast day of the Sto. Niño, patron saint of the town.

In a separate check, not one from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources provincial office also knew about the blasting of the MPA here.

The barangay official further said the blasting however did not affect the seahorse sanctuary because it was far from where the explosion occurred.

The barangay and a non-government organization have been maintaining or sustaining the seahorse sanctuary, which has been drawing experts and marine biologists from around the world for study and research. (FREEMAN)