BFAR not keen on lifting PHL fishing ban amid China's muscle-flexing

Amid China's latest muscle-flexing in the disputed Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal area, Philippine fishery agency is not keen on responding in kind by lifting its own fishing ban in the area. Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources head Asis Perez on Thursday said the Philippine ban is also meant to ensure the safety of fishermen in the area, as the monsoon may generate strong winds and big waves at this time of year. "[Ang fishing ban natin] ay hindi dahil may fishing ban ang China. Dalawa ang rason natin: Conservation ng resources at ang security ng ating pangingisda. Malapit na kasi ang hanging habagat. Ang mangingisda natin maliit ang bangka nila," Perez said in an interview on dzBB radio. Earlier this week, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said China appears to be flexing its maritime muscle by keeping 21 vessels and 76 other smaller boats at the disputed shoal. It cited a Philippine Coast Guard report showing China has five Chinese government vessels in the shoal, along with 16 Chinese fishing boats, 10 of which were inside the lagoon while six were outside. DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez said the increase in the number of China’s vessels in the area "imperils marine biodiversity in the shoal and threatens the marine ecosystem in the whole of the West Philippine Sea." The shoal has been the site of a month-long standoff between the Philippines and China, which began when Philippine authorities spotted several Chinese fishermen poaching in the shoal. But before a Philippine Navy crew could make arrests, Chinese vessels blocked the Philippine vessel's path. Earlier, the BFAR downplayed the supposed loss of income of fishermen in the Zambales area due to an ongoing fishing ban in the disputed marine area. Perez said Panatag Shoal, or Bajo de Masinloc, is relatively remote and is not considered a major fishing ground. "Hindi ito sasabihin nating major fishing ground ng ating mangingisda at seasonal ang pangingisda rito. Ang pinakamaraming mangingisda doon ay lima hanggang anim na bangka on a given day," Perez said in an earlier interview on GMA's "News To Go." "Kung magkakaroon man ng epekto 'di ganoon kalaki (If there will be any impact, it won't be that big)," he added. Perez said that of some 2,000 fishermen in the area, less than 100 go to the Bajo de Masinloc area. The BFAR started implementing last week a temporary fishing ban in the area, claiming the supposed depletion of marine resources there. Its fishing ban came at about the same time as China's own fishing ban on parts of the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). — LBG, GMA News