NEWS: Envi group opposes fish cages in Lasang

Source: Sunstar Davao

May 31, 2013

An environmental group warned Friday that allowing commercial fish pens in the sea off Lasang, Davao City may harm the ecosystem in the area.

Reacting to City Agriculturist 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 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 said this may also have a bearing on the local fisherfolk 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 fisherfolk," he said.

In a phone interview, Turtur admitted that there are indeed parts from Bunawan to Lasang seas that 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 Fisheries 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 that will try to contain whatever wastes 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 that 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 discuss the matter, adding 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 from Department of Environment and Natural Resources, barangay clearance, and license to operate from CAO.

He said the closure order issued by the City Government last year on the fish cages in Punta Dumalag stays.

Big Issues in Small Mining: Assessing the Mt. Diwalwal Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining Communities

In November of 2012, Ateneo de Davao University, along with partner organizations Panalipdan-SMR and AFIRM hosted “Artisanal and Small-scale Mining in Mindanao: Issues, Opportunities and Future Options”, an international conference on artisanal mining. Read the conference report and the synopsis of metallurgist Adrian Daniel's presentation.