ASSOCIATION of Fresh Fish Traders of the Philippines President Jonjon Santos said rising fuel prices were affecting supplies in the market and there was no need to import more fish.
Santos said that the 60,000 metric tons of fish the Agriculture Department imported during this year’s first quarter had addressed the projected deficiency in supplies.
“Mayroon naman tayong isda, hindi kailangang mag-import,” he said in a radio interview.
However, due to the price increase of crude oil, some fishermen were choosing not to operate rather than lose money.
“Ang good news, maraming isda. Ang masama, nasa loob ng municipal waters. Wala naman kakulangan sa fishing ground kaso hindi makapanghuli dahil nasa loob ng municipal waters. Kapag lumayo naman, mahal ang krudo,” said Santos.
He explained that municipal fishermen alone could not meet the demand for fish.
“Dapat tulungan ang mga mangingisda, hindi lang ang mga municipal fisherman, dapat pati ang commercial tulungan din sa krudo. Dapat ayusin ang access sa fishing ground para naman mapakinabangan ng mga mamimili na pwede namang hulihin sa tamang fishing ground,” he added. (GMA News)
