Group hits fish imports from China

ANATIONAL fishers organization criticized the Department of Agriculture (DA) for its “last-minute importation” of 38,000 metric tons (MT) of round scad, mackerel, and sardines from China.

On Wednesday, Pamalakaya members staged a picket in front of the DA office in Quezon City to denounce the move. The group said the measure is not the solution to the shortage of fish and demanded government support for the ailing fishing sector instead.

“Small fishers are already beset with burdening issues such as rising cost of production due to staggering prices of fuel products. Flooding our local market with imported fish does more damage than good to our local fishing industry. Imported fish renders the farmgate value of local fish cheaper, resulting to further diminution of income of fisherfolks,” Ronnel Arambulo, Pamalakaya National Spokesperson said in a statement.

The spike in the prices of fish products was mainly caused by private traders who control and manipulate the prices of the prices of fish in the markets, and not merely by the shortage in production, Arambulo said.

He added that the retail price of galunggong is currently at P250/ kilogram, but its farm gate price is at least four times lower at P60-P80 per kg.

“Importation failed to stabilize retail prices of fish in the previous years because market prices are dictated by monopoly traders. The unreasonable retail prices of fish are mainly driven by profiteering, and not merely by low supply.”

“The next DA head must be no less than competitive and grounded to the rural sectors in order to come up with integrated and sustainable-driven agricultural policies,” Arambulo said.

The fishers’ group over the years has spearheaded the campaign against the importation of fish and has been calling to strengthen the municipal fisheries production as a holistic measure to attain stable fisheries production and domestic food security.