IN LESS than two weeks (or by Feb. 16) fishing will resume in the Visayan Sea. The three-month closed season for the catching of sardines, herrings and mackerels would have ended.
The yearly closed season gives fishes a chance to replenish their stock. The Visayan Sea is a rich fishing ground bordered by the islands of Panay, Negros, Cebu, and Masbate. But overfishing and illegal fishing have taken a toll on the fish population.
Sardines, herrings and mackerels in the Visayan Sea must be protected and conserved so that future generations will continue to benefit from these rich fishery resources. Overfishing and illegal fishing endanger the population of fishes. These have adverse economic impacts.
The Philippines has one of the world’s richest ecosystems, characterized by extensive coral reefs, sea-grass beds and dense mangroves. It is located within the Coral Triangle and houses the world’s center of the center of marine biodiversity, the Verde Island Passage. But despite this abundance of marine resources, a large percentage of our population living in coastal communities remains poor. An estimated 4 of 10 coastal residents in the Philippines live below the poverty line. Unsustainable fishing practices, urbanization and pollution degrade our marine ecosystems. Moreover, the changing climate poses great threat to our seas. Oceans have acidified, having absorbed about a third of the carbon dioxide emitted. This has resulted in coral bleaching.
For an archipelagic country like the Philippines, this unraveling scenario is a nightmare due to threats of inundation, decrease in fish catch, and weak tourism in marine environments. The destruction of coral reefs, whether due to coral bleaching or destructive fishing practices, would translate to lower fish catch and lower protein for the people. It is estimated that 80 percent of the animal protein requirement of Filipinos come from our seas.
We must aim to increase fish production for the benefit of our fisherfolks, industry stakeholders and the consumers, but we must do so through improvement of resource management, equitable distribution of benefits, and protection of the environment. These are keys to fighting poverty, food security and over-all economic development.
