BFAR readying plan for fish pen operators

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources will craft a backup plan for operators of fish pens at Laguna de Bay to ensure stable fish supply especially in Metro Manila as President Duterte ordered the removal of large pens in the lake.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol said the Department of Agriculture and BFAR would be actively involved in the undertaking even if this was in the purview of Environment Secretary Regina Lopez.

Duterte, in his State of the Nation Address on July 25,  tasked Lopez to limit the lake area taken up by fish pens owned by local government officials.

Tuesday, Piñol reiterated that the 911-square kilometer lake “is now a virtual maze of fish pens which effectively choke small fishermen.”

He said the DA would be involved because of the impact of the President’s order on the fish supply in Metro Manila.

“The fish pens of Laguna de Bay are the sources of 36 percent of the fish requirements of Metro Manila, and the dismantling of the fish pens will have an adverse effect on the supply and price of fish,” Piñol said.

“BFAR must come up with a back up plan to ensure that during the period of the dismantling of the fish pens, sources of fish from other parts of the country—especially bangus and tilapia—would be able to fill up the requirements of Metro Manila consumers,” he added.

The agriculture chief said a program would be designed to ensure that those involved in fish pen operations would have an option on how to go on with their business without crowding the lake with fish pens, while small fishermen were given the opportunity to enjoy the bounty of a rehabilitated Laguna de Bay. Ronnel W. Domingo