Espino orders Caquiputan Channel closed
NO MORE FISHPENS, CAGES
“Give the channel a rest!”
LINGAYEN—Enough!
This was the message of Governor Amado Espino Jr. as he ordered a moratorium on all economic activities along the Caquiputan Channel, a narrow body of water that separates the island town of Anda from Bolinao, which has been the site of recurring fishkill incidents in recent years.
Espino called for the immediate dismantling of all existing fish pens and the relocation of all legitimate fish cages along the channel and all areas along the Lingayen Gulf after determining that the structures impede the flow of used water and organic matter from excess feeds and fish droppings to the sea during high tide.
“The fishpens must go and I will risk my neck for this,” said Espino.
The governor ordered Mayors Aldrin Cerdan of Anda and Alfonso Celeste of Bolinao, in coordination with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and the University of the Philippines-Marine Science Institute (UP-MSI) which has an office in Bolinao, to relocate the fish cages to another site.
Espino said Caquiputan Channel “must rest for a while starting before the end of this year” as he pointed out that the most recent fishkill in the two towns, which happened two weeks ago, destroyed 2,148 metric tons of milkfish worth about P173 million.
FINANCIAL HELP
At the same time, Espino assured the affected fish pen operators that they will get help from the provincial government for alternative fish farming sites.
The fish pen operators will be grouped into fives and each group will be provided with a low-interest loan to build fish cages which can cost P300,000 to P500,000 per unit.
Fish cages, which are being tended by well-funded operators, is considered a better technology because these are floating structures and do not block the circulation of water in the surface and underneath.
Espino’s call was hailed by Dr. Malou McGlone, chief of UP-MSI, who said “that was a very good response from a very environmentally-conscious person and I hope the mayors will comply”.
McGlone earlier called the attention of local government officials on the fact that they also need to consider the recent emergence of the deadlier Paralytic Shellfish Plankton Alexandrium in the waters of the Caquiputan Channel.
This concern is on top of the constriction of fish cages, big volume of rotting organic matter spilled into the water, and low dissolve oxygen, among others.
McGlone also expressed hope that the plan of the governor to group the small fish pen operators to help them build their own fish cages will materialize.
Meanwhile, BFAR Regional Director Nestor Domenden also expressed support for Espino’s plan.
Domenden said the Caquipotan Channel, which is only 100 hectares, is being abused as evidenced by the presence of 1,100 aquaculture units operated by different individuals.
On the demolition of all fishpens, Domenden wryly said the ‘no fish pen policy’ is covered by two Fishery Administrative Orders issued by BFAR.
According to Domenden, a 200 to 300 hectare area off Sual town is being eyed as the relocation site for fish cages from the Caquiputan Channel.
Espino said that based on the figures of the Provincial Agriculturist Office, there are at least 1,400 fish cages and pens in the communal sea waters of Anda, Bolinao as well as Alaminos. Each unit produces 18 million metric tons of fish worth P1.53 million per cropping.
He said there are at least 6,000 families directly involved in fish farming in these areas, aside from the fish consignees, vendors and labourers.–LM
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