Belen tells illegal fish pen owners: Enough!
AUGUST DEADLINE
OPERATORS of illegal fishpens that have once again proliferated in the rivers of Dagupan City have been given until the end of August to dismantle their structures “or else”.
Acting Mayor Belen Fernandez, also the mayor-elect, met with the illegal fishpen owners last Tuesday and gave them the deadline along with a strong ultimatum.
“Huwag nila akong subukan!” said Fernandez in a talk with media.
The mayor-elect set the deadline after she agreed to allow the operators a grace period to allow their fish stock to grow further before harvesting.
City Agriculture Officer Emma Molina earlier reported that there are now close to 500 illegal fish pens in all the rivers of Dagupan, from only 24 in March.
Fernandez said she wants the city’s rivers cleared of illegal structures to make way for the subsistence fishermen who have been taught to put up proper fish traps, among them “batikwas“, “sky labs” and oyster props.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) office in Dagupan was asked by Fernandez to train the subsistence fishermen on sustainable fishing methods.
Unlike the fish pens, the fish traps are environment-friendly as feeds that pollute the water do not have to be thrown into the river.
Illegal fish pens proliferated in April and May reportedly in exchange for campaign funds for Mayor Benjamin Lim and his son Councilor Brian Lim.
“Imagine, non-Dagupeños were allowed by the outgoing city administration to pollute the rivers of Dagupan when they can not do this in their own places,” Fernandez said.
Fernandez said she will hold Molina responsible if the illegal fish pens have not been cleared out by the August deadline.
When The PUNCH first reported the sudden proliferation of fish pens in April, the Lim administration adamantly denied the exposé until more pictures were published.
Manuel Gutierrez, head of the fishing ordinance enforcement unit, belatedly defended the presence of illegal fish pens pointing to lack of equipment to enforce it. The number of fish pens increased since.
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