In a bid to combat overfishing and safeguard the fisheries sector, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. is considering implementing a fishing ban and imposing additional restrictions in certain areas.
During an impromptu interview in Zamboanga City, Marcos, who also serves as the Philippine agriculture chief, emphasized the need to allow fish populations to replenish in preparation for the upcoming seasons.
He underscored the significance of fisheries in the government’s overall development plan, particularly in light of dwindling catches attributed to the alleged destruction of breeding grounds.
To tackle this challenge, the Presidential Communications Office disclosed that the Marcos administration intends to bolster the availability of cold storage facilities, as a significant portion of fish catches, estimated at up to 30 percent, are currently deemed “degraded or damaged.”
Back in March, Marcos, Jr. took steps to initiate the construction of additional cold storage facilities at various ports, aiming to minimize spoilage of fishermen’s catches and reduce dependency on imports.
Malacañang revealed that fish spoilage rates currently range from 25 to 40 percent, largely due to a shortage of post-harvest equipment such as blast freezers, ice-making machines, and cold storage warehouses.
In a noteworthy move last November, President Marcos, Jr. greenlit a substantial P11.2 billion project, with backing from the World Bank, dedicated to revitalizing the country’s fisheries sector.
Source: PhilNews24 | September 20, 2023
