SUAL–The operation of fish cages here will now be regulated by the municipal government to ensure the sustainability of the industry.

Mayor John Rodney Arcinue said an ordinance giving the local government regulatory powers has been approved by the municipal board.

The fish cages, which generate about 25% of the total bangus production in Pangasinan, began to proliferate in the coastal areas here since 1996 and there are now about 400.

The ordinance will bring the number down to300, which a government study identified to be ideal for sustainable operations.

The cages, currently scattered irregularly at the sea, will also be re-positioned into rows of 100.

At a tax rate of P10,000 per cage, the municipal government projects an annual income of P3 million from the fish cages.

Arcinue said the ordinance also sets regulations for the stocking density of bangus, the spacing between cages, the limit on the number of fish cages one person or corporation can operate, and other prohibitions.

The mayor added that the ordinance will greatly minimize the incidence of fish kill citing the series that hit the towns of Anda and Bolinao which he attributed to the absence of regulatory measures over fish cages operations.

“We have to keep a balance otherwise we’ll have more fish kill because if we don’t, who will continue to invest?,” he said.

Many of the operators, mainly Chinese and Manila-based business-men, have been here for years and majority of the communities in the coastal area now depend on fish cage operations for livelihood.#

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