MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) announced high toxicity levels in the waters of 18 coastal areas in the Philippines.

The agency said, water samples obtained from these areas were found to be positive for paralytic shellfish poison (PSP) or toxic red tide in the latest laboratory results of BFAR and the local government units announced on May 8.

These areas include:

Puerto Princesa Bay, Puerto Princesa City in Palawan;
Coastal waters of Dauis and Tagbilaran City in Bohol;
Tambobo Bay, Siaton in Negros Oriental;
Coastal waters of Calubian in Leyte;
Balite Bay, Mati City in Davao Oriental;
Lianga and Bislig Bays, and coastal waters of Hinatuan in Surigao del Sur.
Coastal waters of Daram Island, and Zumarraga, Cambatutay and Villareal Bays in Western Samar;
Coastal waters of Leyte, Carigara and Ormoc Bays, and Cancabato Bay, Tacloban City in Leyte;
Coastal waters of Biliran Islands;
Murcielagos Bay in Zamboanga del Norte

BFAR warned that all types of shellfish and Acetes (alamang) from the areas are not safe for human consumption.

However, fish, squids, shrimps, and crabs remain safe for human consumption provided that they are fresh and washed thoroughly, and internal organs such as gills and intestines are removed before cooking, the agency said.

MANILA, Philippines—Nanawagan  ang Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) sa mga mangingisdang Pilipino na huwag matakot mangisda sa West Philippine Sea.

Ayon kay BFAR Director Eduardo Gongona, dapat maipakita natin sa Tsina na tayo ang nagmamay-ari ng inaangkin nilang teritoryo at dapat lamang na pakinabangan natin ang mga likas na yaman dito.

Tiniyak ng BFAR na pababantayan nila sa mga tauhan ng pamahalaan na nagpapatrolya sa West Philippine Sea ang kaligtasan ng mga mangingisdang Pinoy na magtutungo sa lugar.

“Habang nandoon ang ating mangingisda kailangang bigyan naman natin sila ng pansin at proteksyon in a sense na ang feeling nila at we protect the fishermen, we protect the fishing vessel and we protect the environment,” ayon kay Gongona.

Aniya, malaki rin ang maitutulong sa food security ng bansa ng nasa 324,000 metric tons ng isda na makukuha dito taon-taon.

“Relatively speaking talagang kapag dumami ang supply natin ay bababa ang presyo, supply and demand. Kaya nga ang supply na nanggagaling sa West Philippine Sea ay hindi magkulang” ayon kay Gongona.

Mayaman ang West Philippine Sea sa mga mamahaling isda gaya ng galunggong, sardinas, alumahan, tulingan, makerel, lapu lapu at tuna.

Sa kasalukuyang mayroong 300,000 mangisngisda ang bansa at nasa mahigit 100,000 lamang ang nagtutungo sa West Philippine Sea. Ulat ni Lea Ylagan

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) is investigating the alleged overfishing by Chinese fishermen in the areas within the Philippine exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

“Sa ngayon ay patuloy tayong nangangalap ng datos patungkol sa hangganan ng epekto ng fishing activities ng mga Chinese fishing vessels sa West Philippine Sea,” said BFAR Director Eduardo Gongona.

“Kasabay nito ay pinalakas natin ang ating pagpapatrolya kasama ang buong task force ng West Philippine Sea upang labanan kung mayroon mang overfishing na nagaganap duon,” he added.

As for the possible collapse in the Philippine fishing industry should Chinese fishing activities continue in the area, Gongona believes otherwise.

“Nais nating bigyang diin na malawak ang pangisdaan ng Pilipinas. Marami tayong mayayamang pangisdaan sa Pilipinas bukod sa West Philippine Sea. Sa Katunayan isa sa mayayamang bahagi ng ating karagatan ang municipal waters na siyang pangunahing tirahan at pangitlugan ng mga isda at lamang dagat,” Gongona assured.

“Bukod diyan, sa captured fisheries sub-sector na may sakop ng marine municipal at commercia fishing sa iba pang bahagi ng bansa, nariyan rin ang culture subsector na patuloy ang paglago ng produksyon bunga ng programa ng pamahalaan,” he added.

While there are other sources of fish in the country like the captured fisheries sector and the aquaculture industry, the official underscored the importance of the West Philippine Sea to the country’s fish production.

“The production of the West Philippine Sea in 2020 is estimated at 324,312 metric tons. Nnakapag ambag ito ng 7.36 percent sa produksyon ng buong sector ng pangisdaan sa buong Pilipinas,” Gongona said.

“Totoong malaki ang kahalagahan ng West Philippine Sea bilang lugar pangisdaan para sa libo libo nating mga mangingisdang Pilipino. Dapat lamang na ating itong pagyamanin, bigyang proteksyon sa anumang gawaing sumisira sa likas na yaman nito,” Gongona added.

He further stated that any act that destroys the area will not only affect the Philippines but other countries as well because all nations’ land and waters especially those surrounding the disputed area are interconnected.

“Kaya naman patuloy nating sinusulong ang ating kasarinlan sa ating WPS at kinokendena natin lahat ng iligal na pangingisda doon,” he said.