BOUNTY FROM THE SEA Many fishermen in Zambales depend on their catch from waters near Panatag Shoal in the West Philippine Sea to sustain their families. —JOANNA ROSE AGLIBOT/FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Saturday clarified that the government is not eyeing for a fishing ban to address the country’s fish population.
“Hindi maganda ang pagkapaliwanag ko. Hindi fishing ban ang pinag-usapan ko. Ang sinasabi ko, kung saan yung breeding area ng isda, ‘wag tayong mangingisda doon para dumami yung isda,” he said over an ambush interview during an event in Camarines Sur.
(My explanation was not clear. I was not talking about the fishing ban. What I was saying is that let us not harvest fish from where they are being bred so we can let their population grow.)
The president was pertaining to his statement on Tuesday wherein the probability of imposing a fishing ban was mentioned.
“Pero walang fishing ban. Hindi naman makakapaghanapbuhay ang tao. Padadamihin nga natin yung isda,” Marcos added, citing that fishermen recently reported that there is a decrease on their fish catch.
(But there is no fishing ban. People will not be able to make a living [if we will implement that]. We are going to let the number of fishes increase.)
Marcos, who is also the current Department of Agriculture head, further encouraged people to check and protect the breeding areas of fish.
“Kaya talagang tingnan natin kung saan yung mga breeding grounds ng mga isda. Alagaan natin nang mabuti, ‘wag tayong papasok muna roon, para makarami tayo ng huli ng ating mga mangingisda,” he went on.
(Let us check where the breeding grounds are. Protect it well. For now, let us not go there so our fishermen will eventually be able to catch more.)