Motorless fishing contest in Ilocos Sur to highlight ecotourism

CANDON CITY, Ilocos Sur – The resort town of Santiago here will be having a motorless fishing contest at the Santiago Cove to highlight its ecotourism thrust. The contest would be held on April 26. Outriggers or bancas should have their motors removed before sailing off from the cove to the sea, said Ilocos Sur Rep. Eric Singson. Singson said that Santiago town would be spearheading sustainable fishing and ecotourism in the province. Six villages here have formed their fish sanctuary to raise sea urchin, lobster, grouper or lapu-lapu and seaweeds. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in her visit here last December even gave P1 million from her Presidential Social Fund for the sanctuary. Mrs Arroyo even called on international environmental NGOs to help Santiago carve out a fishing ecotourism plan. Singson said that because of the serenity of the waters in the cove, motorless fishing is being encouraged. He said that the cove has become a favorite of Korean and Taiwanese tourists who love to eat sea urchin known here as maritangtang taken fresh from the sea cages. Other than Santiago, nearby San Esteban is the other sea urchin-raising town in the province. Singson also said that seaweeds are also cultivated in the cove since 2004 to supplement the food of the fish they are raising in the sanctuary. The Santiago fish sanctuary covers the coastal villages of Ambucao, Sabangan, Guinabang, San Roque, Gabao and Buto. - GMANews.TV