Bolinao residents want moratorium on aquaculture operations in town
By Yolanda Sotelo
Exasperated by the environmental pollution caused by the million-peso aquaculture industry in their town, Bolinao residents pressed for temporary moratorium of aquaculture operation, saying it should continue only after the ecosystem has been restored to health and a sustainable plan has been put in place.
“We are not against aquaculture per se, but unfortunately, it has become free-for-all and the number of cages has been too much for the sea water to sustain that fish kill has been occurring on almost regular basis. It has also affected the livelihood of marginal fishermen who used to depend on the sea resources,” Margaret Celeste, chair of the Movement of Bolinao Concerned Citizens Inc., said.
There are over 600 cages and 200 fish pens in Bolinao waters which were affected by red tide and fish kill last month. The damages from fish kill was estimated to be P50 million, but losses from shellfishes due to red tide was not given any cost, according to Municipal Planning and Development Officer Brunner Caranza.
The pollution caused by the fishery industry has caused the disappearance of “barangen dumadalan (a kind of rabbit fish),” lobsters, sea cucumber, corals and other species that used to thrive in the Kakiputan Channel, the residents said.
“We see the importance of Bolinao in the production of fish. The industry has propelled some Bolinao residents to prominence and prosperity. But it is benefiting only a handful of investors while it is destroying the Bolinao ecosystem,” the residents said.
They asked the authorities to act fast because the town’s marine environment is deteriorating quickly and time could come that no fish could survive anymore.
“When that time come, Bolinao could no longer contribute to the fishery sector,” Celeste said.
A position paper of the residents submitted to the local government proposed the complete cessation of aquaculture operations for as long as it would allow the host environment to recover. They also asked the LGU to work closely with towns sharing sea space with Bolinao.
On Thursday, Bolinao Mayor Alfonso Celeste, Anda Mayor Aldrin Cerdan and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Regional Director Nestor Domenden met with the aquaculture operators to inform them about the need to rationalize the industry.
Domenden said the two mayors agreed to the proposal to minimize the number of structures in both towns, as well as to implement the recommended management strategies to protect the marine environment and prevent disasters like fish kill and red tide.
There should be a technical working group to conduct scientific study and craft rules and regulations to be strictly implemented by the local governments, he said.
First district Rep. Jesus Celeste also said the aquaculture problem should be resolved based on scientific recommendations by agencies such as BFAR and the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute and the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center.
“The LGUs should abide by the recommendation of the Bolinao concerned citizens and the technical working group,” he said.
Caranza said Mayor Celeste declared to remove the fish pens or “he will resign from office.”
Among the proposals of the residents include the closure of fishpen operations which impede the flow of current, adopt new zonification and corresponding carrying capacity, free bottleneck areas (Culang to Culangi villages) of fish cages, alternate operations by zones or by year, create a monitoring committee.
They also asked for protection of rights and interests of marginal fishermen employed as caretakers, as well as define their rights and privileges in relation to their work as caretakers.
http://northernwatchonline.com/2010/...tions-in-town/
By Yolanda Sotelo
Exasperated by the environmental pollution caused by the million-peso aquaculture industry in their town, Bolinao residents pressed for temporary moratorium of aquaculture operation, saying it should continue only after the ecosystem has been restored to health and a sustainable plan has been put in place.
“We are not against aquaculture per se, but unfortunately, it has become free-for-all and the number of cages has been too much for the sea water to sustain that fish kill has been occurring on almost regular basis. It has also affected the livelihood of marginal fishermen who used to depend on the sea resources,” Margaret Celeste, chair of the Movement of Bolinao Concerned Citizens Inc., said.
There are over 600 cages and 200 fish pens in Bolinao waters which were affected by red tide and fish kill last month. The damages from fish kill was estimated to be P50 million, but losses from shellfishes due to red tide was not given any cost, according to Municipal Planning and Development Officer Brunner Caranza.
The pollution caused by the fishery industry has caused the disappearance of “barangen dumadalan (a kind of rabbit fish),” lobsters, sea cucumber, corals and other species that used to thrive in the Kakiputan Channel, the residents said.
“We see the importance of Bolinao in the production of fish. The industry has propelled some Bolinao residents to prominence and prosperity. But it is benefiting only a handful of investors while it is destroying the Bolinao ecosystem,” the residents said.
They asked the authorities to act fast because the town’s marine environment is deteriorating quickly and time could come that no fish could survive anymore.
“When that time come, Bolinao could no longer contribute to the fishery sector,” Celeste said.
A position paper of the residents submitted to the local government proposed the complete cessation of aquaculture operations for as long as it would allow the host environment to recover. They also asked the LGU to work closely with towns sharing sea space with Bolinao.
On Thursday, Bolinao Mayor Alfonso Celeste, Anda Mayor Aldrin Cerdan and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Regional Director Nestor Domenden met with the aquaculture operators to inform them about the need to rationalize the industry.
Domenden said the two mayors agreed to the proposal to minimize the number of structures in both towns, as well as to implement the recommended management strategies to protect the marine environment and prevent disasters like fish kill and red tide.
There should be a technical working group to conduct scientific study and craft rules and regulations to be strictly implemented by the local governments, he said.
First district Rep. Jesus Celeste also said the aquaculture problem should be resolved based on scientific recommendations by agencies such as BFAR and the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute and the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center.
“The LGUs should abide by the recommendation of the Bolinao concerned citizens and the technical working group,” he said.
Caranza said Mayor Celeste declared to remove the fish pens or “he will resign from office.”
Among the proposals of the residents include the closure of fishpen operations which impede the flow of current, adopt new zonification and corresponding carrying capacity, free bottleneck areas (Culang to Culangi villages) of fish cages, alternate operations by zones or by year, create a monitoring committee.
They also asked for protection of rights and interests of marginal fishermen employed as caretakers, as well as define their rights and privileges in relation to their work as caretakers.
http://northernwatchonline.com/2010/...tions-in-town/
