OF the more than 400 illegal fish pens that suddenly proliferated in various rivers in Dagupan City just before the May 2013 election, three remain for demolition pending the resolution of legal questions.

This was bared Wednesday by Task Force Bantay Ilog, tasked to demolish all illegal fish pens built along rivers that were not only hampering navigation but also causing water pollution.

Maximo Solis, consultant in the City Agriculture Office and operations officer of the task force, said one of the three remaining illegal fish pens is owned by Lilia Yasar, former barangay chairman of Pantal, which is currently under court litigation with another private individual.

Solis told the PUNCH in a telephone interview that they are waiting for the opinion of the city legal office before proceeding with any action.

City Agriculture Officer Emma Molina earlier said they are observing caution in the case of Yasar’s fish pen, as well as the two other structures, to avoid being drawn into the legal issue between the private parties.

DREDGING

At the same time, Molina pointed out that the three remaining fish pens will surely be affected when the ongoing dredging operations along the Calmay River reach their areas.

To date, Task Force Bantay Ilog has cleaned up the Talaib-Tocok area of the Calmay River, which was the location of the biggest number of illegal fish pens.

At the same time, Solis said that in view of the rigorous dredging of the Calmay River, the task force was ordered by Mayor Belen Fernandez to transfer and re-arrange the fish traps in the area put up by small fishermen.

The fish farmers using fish traps were allowed to set up structures since they do not use feeds that pollute the river.

The re-arrangement and transfer, Solis added, is also in preparation for the launching of the Dagupan Island Tours planned on the third quarter this year.

Some fish cages dedicated to raising high-value fish such as groupers (lapu-lapu), sea bass, and signanid (Malaga) were also allowed in line with the mayor’s ‘One Barangay, One Fish’ program tied up to the Dagupan Island Tours.

The harvest from existing fish cages are due sometime in October when the city plans to hold a Seafood Festival, an event separate from the Bangus Festival held in April.–LVM

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