Envi group opposes fish cages in Lasang
AN environmental group warned yesterday that allowing commercial fish pens in the sea off Lasang, Davao City, may harm the ecosystem in the area.
Reacting to City Agri- culturist Office (CAO) chief Valente Turtur’s statement that fish cage operators are now allowed to operate, Juland Suazo, spokesperson of the Panalipdan Southern Mindanao, said Lasang has been declared as a Marine Protected Area (MPA) and the presence of fish cages may pose a threat to the local species of fish and coral reefs.
“We want to know CAO’s basis. No haste in decision should be made because Lasang is identified as Marine Protected Area (MPA) due to sightings of critically endangered species whale sharks and marine turtles
and relatively good conditions of coral reefs, sea grass beds, and mangroves based on Participatory Coastal Resource Assessment (PCRA),” Suazo said in text message.
He added that this may also have a bearing on the local fisherfolks who help enforce the “fishery laws” and in the protection of mangroves.
“We want clarifications on its (CAO) decision. We warn that commercial fish pens could compete with and displace poor fisherfolks,” he said.
In a phone interview, Turtur admitted that there are indeed parts from Bunawan to Lasang seas which have been declared as Marine Protected Area.
However, he said the actual site where the planned mariculture park will be put up is far from where the protected area is based on the recommendation made by the Bureau of Fiheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).
“Tama gyud na ang ilang giingon nila. Naay portion sa Lasang nga marine protected pero layo ra (They are right about what they said. There’s a portion in Lasang that is a marine protected, but it’s still far),” he said.
Turtur said they will also be putting up a buffer zone which will try to contain whatever wastes that the fish cages may produce in order to maintain the cleanliness of the sea.
“Pero tan-awon pud nato ang carrying capacity sa dagat para ma-avoid ang fish kills tungod sa grabe nga input sa chemicals (We also need to look into the sea’s carrying capacity to avoid fish kills caused by excessive input of chemicals),” Suazo said.
The environmental group maintained that it wants to educate the public that there are sightings of endangered sea creatures which may be gone, unless their natural habitat is well taken care of.
Suazo said they are willing to sit down with the CAO official to dicuss the matter, adding that they would also like to know how the buffer zone is done.
“It’s for the future, it must not be compromised,” he said, adding that a consultation meeting with the locals in Lasang must also be done.
In a previous report, Turtur said operators who want to put up fish cages in Lasang must secure prior documents such as Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) from Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Barangay Clearance, and Licence to Operate from CAO.
He added that the closure order, which was issued by the City Government last year, on the fish cages in Punta Dumalag stays.