Laguna Lake fisherfolk dump janitor fish in protest

MANILA, Philippines — Militant fishermen dumped several kilos of janitor fish in front of the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) in Pasig City on Wednesday to protest the alleged dismantling of fishing communities. Radio dzBB's Sam Nielsen reported that the fisherfolk group Pamalakaya also claimed the action was a preview of their protests in time for President Arroyo's State of the Nation Address (SONA). The fishermen called for the resignation of LLDA general manager Ed Manda for supposedly allowing the dismantling of legitimate fishing communities. Manda denied the charges, saying what they are dismantling are illegal fish pens. Tens of thousands of fishing families get their food and income mainly on Laguna Lake, the Philippines’ largest inland water body with a 911-square-kilometer area and 200 km shoreline. - GMANews.TV