86 fishpen units dismantled in 3 days

DAGUPAN CITY – 86 fishpen units and other aquaculture structures have been dismantled in the main rivers here after majority of the stakeholders in the city in the aquaculture practitioners’ symposium called for by Mayor Benjamin S. Lim last September 28 gave their open support to the clearing of the rivers.

The river cleanup is to be followed by the implementation of a one-year moratorium on fishpens and any fish-catching structures in local rivers.

           

Lim has been personally supervising the clearing operation since October 4 together with the City Agriculture Office. City Agriculturist Emma Molina said it was quite easy for the clearing team this time around to dismantle the fishpens because the structures have been voluntarily abandoned by the fishpen operators themselves.

Molina said the fishpen owners are now more aware of the effect of fishkills’ that made them more open to the idea of cleaning the rivers. “They already saw the benefit that they will derive if they will comply with Mayor Lim’s plan of implementing a one year moratorium.” Molina explained.

“Compared to previous years, when the fishpen owners complied because they were forced to, it’s different this time. The idea is more acceptable to them this time than in the previous administration,” she said.

She explained that the same ordinance is being implemented by Lim in clearing the rivers of fishpens and other aquaculture structures, but after the holding of the symposium called for by Mayor Lim with stakeholders in the city, the operators have become more open than before.

“The owners are more cooperative this time. In return the city is taking the cudgel of pulling out the bamboo poles which will cost the owners some P3,000 if they do it on their own.” she said.

Molina is confident that by the end of the month, her office shall have dismantled all fishpens in the city if the owners continue to be cooperative.

Molina explained that in order not to affect the price and supply of bangus in the market, the city action teams are doing it zone by zone and there are less than ten units that remain in operation. We also need to control the supply and the price of the bangus in the market.”

“The lowest price of bangus was P60 before, but this time it reached P110 wholesale. At retail it is being offered at P130 but if you can haggle, you can get it at P90,” she noted. (CIO)