Fishing boat operators badly need help, too
Closely related to modernizing the fishing vessels of fisherfolk in Albuera is the need for a modernized fish port
Remember a recent incident when a bulk carrier, MV Happy Hiro, hit the wooden FB JOT-18, causing the fishing vessel to capsize and eventually sink in the Sulu Sea? Only 13 of the boat’s 20 crew members were rescued, and seven were declared missing after days of unsuccessful search and rescue operations.
Certainly, there are many unreported sea mishaps involving fishing vessels. These tragic incidents underscored the fact, that like our ferry operators, most operators of fishing vessels need to modernize their fleet.
There are at least two compelling reasons for them to modernize: To enhance their safe operation even on high seas; and to increase production and help achieve food security.
Based on our interview with the fisherfolk of Albuera, Leyte, a municipal fishing community where our shipyard is located, many of them can hardly make profitable production with their small wooden bancas even if they go beyond the three-mile municipal fishing zone. They said that fish are becoming scarce nowadays in the municipal waters fishing ground.
This is corroborated by latest data from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) that showed marine municipal fisheries productions dropped to 927,000 metric tons (MT) or 2.6 percent in 2021 from 952,000 MT in 2020. A commercial production posted a sharper plunge from 975,000 MT in 2020 to 871,000 MT, or a 10.7 percent drop, in 2021.
It is therefore necessary to modernize also the municipal and commercial fishing vessels so that Filipino fishermen can safely operate in the open sea.
We need to refleet our commercial fishing vessels and explore more fishing ground as allowed by law and get our fair share of fish stocks in the ocean, even at least within our territorial waters.
Unlike other countries in the region the Philippines only have 3,473 registered commercial fishing vessels which could be a factor of our dwindling fish production.
IMP Shipyard and Port Services Inc. plans to build commercial fishing vessels, like steel-hulled purseiner, ringnet or trawler that will be offered to fisherfolk cooperatives, in collaboration with BFAR.
This is in line with the 10-Year Maritime Industry Development Plan (MIDP) Priority Program 4 — Strengthening the Safety Standard of Philippine registered fishing vessel and likewise support the government program for sustainable food security.
IMP Shipyard can offer to operators of fishing vessels, who want to upgrade their fleet, the same terms that we offer to ferry operators through bareboat charter or a rentto-own scheme, so that they, too, can continue their fishing operation without the need of big capital.
We are confident that the cost of building fishing vessels can be reduced further by availing ourselves of a package incentives granted by the government for acquiring brand new ships.
Meanwhile, closely related to modernizing the fishing vessels of fisherfolk in Albuera is the need for a modernized fish port so that fishing operators are assured of continuous business operation with reasonable profit.
It is therefore necessary to modernize also the municipal and commercial fishing vessels so that Filipino fishermen can safely operate in the open sea.
In view of this necessity, we are seriously considering the development of a fish port in collaboration with the local government of Albuera, the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) and fisherfolk to help sustain socio-economic programs and food security in the coastal community.
This can be a corporate social responsibility of IMP Shipyard once it is fully operational next year.
In support also of the plans of our government to set up a post-harvest production facility, a portion of IMP Shipyard can be set aside for the fish port, and we propose that its management and operation will be in collaboration with the local government unit, PFDA and Philippine Association of Coastal and Inland Water Ferries Inc. or PACIWFI.
It is these proposed schemes for modernizing ferries and fishing vessels that prompted the Coalition for Agricultural Modernization in the Philippines to consider our Albuera Shipyard and Fishport project as template in promoting how the shipbuilding industry can help improve the lives of small fisherfolk and the fish value chain.