Risa, Kiko: Probe foreign boats’ overfishing at WPS

Protecting our rights in the WPS is not just about our legal jurisdiction, but also about our country’s food security

Senators have called on the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to step up and provide support for Filipino fishermen whose livelihood were affected by the presence of Chinese militia vessels in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

Senator Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday urged the BFAR to conduct an investigation over the alleged overfishing by the foreign vessels following complaints from fisherfolk in San Antonio, Zambales about their dwindling catch due to the presence of at least 20 Chinese ships in their area.

The agency, she added, should also account for the loss of profit of fishermen who cannot conduct their business freely in the contested waters.

“How much are we losing because we cannot fish freely? Protecting our rights in the WPS is not just about our legal jurisdiction, but also about our country’s food security,” Hontiveros said in a statement.

“BFAR should be able to regularly monitor these areas because we need to account for what is being stolen from us. Accurate data and information will help us to fill the shortcomings of the government to its people,” she added.

Some fishermen raised the alarm over the fleet last week saying that the ships are disturbing their fishing grounds at night. The complainants said that it significantly affected their catch as their previous earnings of P4,000 per fishing trip are now almost gone.

The Chinese vessels are stationed 111 kilometers off San Antonio, Zambales which is within the 350-kilometer Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

The Philippine Coast Guard said the area is an international nautical highway where foreign vessels frequently pass but the Zambales fishermen reported that the Chinese vessels remain stationary and have been there for four months now.

Senator Francis Pangilinan aired a similar statement earlier, warning that the country is facing a “twin threat” with the presence of the foreign fleets — encroachment and possible shortage in fish supply.

How much are we losing because we cannot fish freely?

“As early as now, we should heed the warning of our fishermen on the issue of their dwindling catch. We are glad that the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) takes this into account in their diplomatic protests,” he said.

“In this situation, China is not only violating our sovereignty, but it is also robbing us of income and food. Small-scale farmers and fishermen are always on the losing end. They are the poorest and almost always taken advantage of,” he added.

The lawmakers further said that the Philippines is losing billions in profits due to the presence of the foreign ships in WPS.

The DFA on 14 April fired two diplomatic protests against China after the National Task Force-WPS reported that 240 Chinese ships were found still lingering in the contested waters.