Manila: A Filipino lawmaker has raised concern over the world’s depleting fish stocks, as she noted that several marine species favoured by Filipinos are in danger of being totally wiped out.
Citing overfishing, Senator Loren Legarda reported that future generations may not see the galunggong (round scad), dilis (anchovies) and the tuna on their dinner table, as these species are already overfished.
“Overfishing has been a great challenge to the country’s fishing industry. Aside from declining tuna stocks, we have also received reports earlier in the year regarding the decline in the supply of galunggong and dilis. We have to immediately address this concern because continued marine degradation and weak enforcement of our fisheries law will further deprive our citizens of their basic needs,” she stressed.
Once considered the common Filipino’s fish because they can be bought cheaply just about in every fish market in the Philippines, the galunggong and dilis have become more scarce as time goes by. Its price now is more expensive compared to previous years as a result.
According to Legarda the issue concerning overfishing is relevant to the Philippine fishing industry as the country is the fourth largest producer of fresh chilled and canned tuna products in the world as well as other marine products.
Declining tuna and other fish stocks worldwide had been largely blamed to overfishing and illegal fishing practices.
She noted that the Red List of Threatened Species of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) revealed that five of the eight tuna species in the world have been considered threatened with extinction,
The senator said that she is hopeful that the Philippine ratification of the Agreement with the International Centre for Living Aquatic Resources Management (ICLARM) will produce significant improvements in the country’s fisheries and aquaculture sector.
She explained that the ICLARM has been working closely with a number of research institutions in the Philippines to increase fish production, improving resource management and equitable distribution of benefits in developing countries and protecting the environment.
“The presence of ICLARM in the country, through a duly established Office, ensures the continuity in its programmes and joint initiatives with the Philippine government and other partner institutions for the development of the fisheries sector. However, our government has the greater responsibility to ensure that it faithfully and effectively implements the provisions of the Fisheries Code to balance the need for livelihood and food supply and the need to ensure continuous production of fish species for future yield and maintain ecological balance,” Legarda concluded.
