Greenpeace says
Philippine seas is facing an unprecedented crisis
By GREENPEACE
October 25, 2012
DONSOL, Sorsogon –
Climate change, ocean pollution, and overfishing threaten the
Philippines’ stature as the leader in global marine biodiversity, and
are already affecting communities that rely on rich marine ecosystems
for food.
At a community conference
held at the Municipal Hall of Donsol, Sorsogon, Greenpeace today
expressed alarm over the unprecedented destruction of the Philippine
marine ecosystem that foreshadows serious health, social and economic
impacts.
“We are an archipelagic
nation. Soon, we will become the epicenter of global marine adversity
if our government agencies refuse to acknowledge and address the
crisis at sea,” said Vince Cinches, Oceans Campaigner for Greenpeace
Southeast Asia.
“Our seas are already under
threat from massive overfishing and decades of unsustainable fishing
practices that have resulted in today’s dwindling fish catch. With
ocean acidification and rising sea temperatures, fish won’t be able to
spawn and propagate. That now leaves 30 million Filipinos with even
less fish to eat,” he added.
There is also the problem of
illegal commercial fishing. Monsignor Angel Dy of the Sorsogon Social
Action Foundation Inc. said that fisherfolk around Burias-Ticao Pass
cannot compete with large commercial fishing vessels that encroach on
municipal waters. “We know that illegal and unregulated fishing is
rampant in our waters, and yet no one seems to be doing anything about
it. This is the reason why last year some bishops went to President
Aquino to request that his office ban commercial vessels from the
waters around Burias, Ticao, and Ragay Gulf,” said the Monsignor.
With climate change
affecting the world’s oceans, more extreme and unpredictable weather
has shortened the fishing season for small-scale fisherfolk who are
entirely dependent on the sea for their livelihood. In Donsol,
fishermen have experienced another lackluster year. Most can barely
meet six kilos per day, the average haul that will give them a good
day’s wage. About 1.2M jobs in the fishing, tourism and the food
sectors would be directly affected by poor oceans management. Cinches
said that the government has so far not offered a comprehensive
solution to revive Philippine seas.
Philippine Fisheries has an
annual estimated production of 6,000,000 metric tons of fish, but
there has been a steady decline due to overfishing attributed to
illegal commercial fishing vessels. Greenpeace has long called on the
government’s attention to help avert a fish crisis. Earlier this year,
the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) revealed that ten
out of 13 fishing grounds in the country are heavily exploited due to
illegal and unregulated fishing activities.
Greenpeace is working to
support fishing communities in the Philippines, particularly in places
like Ticao Pass and Donsol which are home to vulnerable species such
as whalesharks and manta rays.
“We are in deep trouble. The
government must acknowledge that our seas are in crisis,” Cinches
said. He urged the BFAR to come up with a fisheries rescue roadmap:
“What the country needs is the establishment of more marine reserves
and the reduction of our fishing capacity to sustainable levels,
alongside long term solutions to climate change.”
In the coming weeks,
Greenpeace will launch its Ocean Defender initiative, bringing
together a network of volunteers who are committed to raising
awareness about oceans issues such as marine pollution and overfishing.
The group is calling on Filipinos who care about our seas to join this
movement by logging on to
http://www.facebook.com/groups/oceandefender/
Greenpeace is committed to
defending the health of the world’s oceans and the plants, animals and
people that depend upon them.