Ex-Negros mayor wants crablets banned in restaurants

MANILA, Philippines - Saying crabs belong to a natural sanctuary and not on eateries, a former mayor of EB Magalona town in Negros Occidental urged restaurants to remove crablets from their menus. Online news site Visayan Daily Star reported that ex-mayor Alfonso Gamboa made the appeal amid plans to establish a crab sanctuary in the town. "The establishment of a sanctuary, backed up by scientific data, would preserve the breeding stock. We have zoned up our coastline and it is in our municipal fisheries code," said Gamboa as staunch environment advocate. He added that to preserve the crabs, "we should enforce the ban by asking restaurants to remove crablets from their menu. That is the first and crucial step." Earlier, EB Magalona Mayor David Lacson was eyeing the establishment of a crab sanctuary in the town to ensure the continued presence of blue crabs in its waters. Gamboa noted that fishermen in the town had noted a drop in their catch of blue crabs in the town's waters. "Strict enforcement and political will are needed. Mangrove preservation and propagation are critical (steps)," he said. Lacson said he is proposing the establishment of a 19-kilometer crab sanctuary for gravid crabs or "Bukakahan" – this would span a coast line of Latasan and Pasil villages. The sanctuary will be off-limits to fishermen for five to 10 years to allow undisturbed spawning and ensure the propagation of blue crabs for the future. If they do not remove them (crablets), media can help in the effort by informing people that restaurants serving crablets are not environment-friendly and must not be patronized, he said. - GMANews.TV