Overfishing compels PHL to import fish

Fishing has dramatically declined in the Philippines, an archipelago of 7,100 islands, forcing the country to import catch from its neighbors to meet the demand of the local market.

 

"We admit that there has been a decline in our local fisheries because of destructive fishing methods and over fishing," said Asis Perez, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources director. “There are signs that 10 out of our 13 major fishing grounds are overfished,  particularly in the Visayas."

 

The heavily exploited waters are the Visayan Sea, Lingayen Gulf, northern Zambales, Camotes Sea, Honda Bay, Babuyan Channel, Lagonoy Gulf, Sorsogon Bay, Hinatuan and Dinagay Bay and Davao Gulf.

 

Last year, the Philippines imported 700,000 metric tons of fish and fish products largely from China, Taiwan, Peru and Papa New Guinea. "Imported fish are galunggong (scad), mackerel, salmon, dory, sardines... while imported fish products are fish feeds," said Perez.

 

BFAR data showed the fisheries sector output declined by 0.04 percent to 4.85 million metric tons in 2012 from a year earlier.

 

In 2011, the sector registered a 3.77 percent production decline to 4.98 million MT after falling by 1.72 percent in 2010.

 

The population and size of pelagic fish species such as sardines, galunggong and matambaka (ox-eye scad) “are dwindling due to overfishing,” according to the bureau.

 

"In fact if you look at the projects before, they were all projects to take out or wean away the fishermen from fishing as early as the 1990s, preparing the fishermen towards other jobs, alternative livelihood, to reduce over fishing," Perez noted.

 

"What we are doing now is management measures and closing season is one of those... There is also resource rehabilitation and the prevention of distractive fishing methods," he added.

 

This is related to the seasonality of some species.

 

"Fishing is seasonal as some species of fish such as sardines and scads are seasonal," BFAR assistant director Benjamin Tabios, noted. "Their presence in our waters depends on the time."

 

“Imported tuna comes from the catch of companies organized and existing by virtue of and under the laws of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea which are owned by Filipinos operating fishing vessels there," he added.

 

"As these are considered PNG fishing vessels, these catches are considered imports even though the beneficial owners are Filipinos and the crew of these fishing vessels are Filipinos," said Tabios.

 

There are also instances of smuggling.

 

But Perez said they could not yet give any figures on smuggled fish, noting the smuggled products were usually the cheap varieties that consisted largely of common species such as galunggong and sardines and largely from China and Taiwan. – VS/HS, GMA News