Integrated fishery law proposed for quality water
DAGUPAN City Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr. is calling for the adoption of an integrated fishery ordinance for his city, Binmaley and Lingayen after learning of the results of a three-year hydrographic survey that showed the very poor quality of water that they all share.
Fernandez said an integrated fishery ordinance would be the best approach to address the water quality problem plaguing the river system that runs through the three areas.
Speaking at a forum on Thursday organized by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Fernandez urged the agriculture officers of Dagupan, Binmaley and Lingayen to meet soon to discuss the planned ordinance.
The forum formally presented to the officials of the three local government units the results of the hydrographic study in the three areaswhich was funded by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and National Integrated Fisheries Technology Development Center.
The city mayor also proposed the need to integrate the oyster farming activities in the three areas to help improve water quality. Oysters secrete and absorb coliform bacteria in the water, thus help improve the quality of the water.
Regino Regpala, a member of the team that surveyed the water, said they used the water quality parameter equipment to determine the quality of water and found that the water in Dagupan and Binmaley “is not too good for aquaculture”, unlike in Lingayen.
He noted that oyster farming is no longer feasible in Binmaley water because of the serious depletion of oxygen in the water.
Dagupan and Binmaley are the leading areas in Pangasinan in the production of bangus, yet their water remains poor in quality, unlike in Lingayen.
He said the study also confirmed high coliform count level in the water, especially in Dagupan and Binmaley, which reached as high as 10,000 to 20,000 most probable number (MPN), especially during the rainy season. The standard is 5,000 MPN.
Regala endorsed the proposal of Fernandez for an integrated fishery ordinance, saying it is along overdue initiative.
Also recommended include proper zoning of the water, placement of fish pens in proper areas, and the number of fish pens allowed must be pegged to the minimum.
NIFTD Director Westly Rosario also said that proposal for the adoption of a unified ordinance in fisheries among the three areas had long been sought by stakeholders.
He noted that among the three areas sharing the same river system, Binmaley has the worst because the dismantling of the fish pens came belatedly.
Rosario, also executive director of the National Fisheries Research Institute, said when the fish pens in Binmaley were finally dismantled, the oxygen level in the water was already depleted and it would take years to repair the river’s damaged eco-system.
Fernandez’ proposal for a unified fisheries code was hailed by. Josefina Victorio, municipal administrator of Binmaley who represented Mayor Simplicio Rosario, and by Barangay Chairman Jaime Ferrer, representing Mayor Ernesto Castaneda of Lingayen. —LM
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