Davao Gulf may lose 4 major commercial fish species in 10 years

DOST Region 11 just released the results of a 10-year study that looked into the volume and quality of fish harvests in the Davao Gulf.

 

The study looked at the 10 fish species commonly harvested in the Davao Gulf: matambaka, tamban, moro-moro, caraballas, bilong-bilong, lapu-lapu, danggit, molmol, talakitok, and maya-maya. 

 

Of these species, with the exception of the maya-maya , the harvest numbers for all other species was on the decline.  Worse, at current rates of decline,  the caraballa, bilong-bilong, molmol, and danggit may all disappear completely from Davao Gulf within a decade. And even the more resilient species —matambaka, tamban and moro moro— may disappear within a generation. Overall, the volume and quality of the fish in the Davao Gulf has been in constant decline at least since the year 2000.

 

Concerns and issues

 

The results of this surprising study were presented to the media on Monday, July 30, at the Kapehan sa SM press conference. The overall goal for this study is to help the local government design legislation that could improve the sustainability of the small and medium scale fishing industry and eventually improve the lives of fishermen in the Davao region.  It also seeks to address the different issues that contributed to the decline and recommended various legislative solutions to control and reverse this trend.

 

The study is especially relevant as more and more local fishing resources are being depleted and fishermen are forced to venture further from Mindanao, sometimes even risking going into disputed waters, just to find fish.

 

Factors in decline

 

The biggest factors identified to have contributed to the decline of fish harvests in the Davao Gulf are mostly environmental, the destruction of the fishes’ local habitat, depletion of fish resources due to overfishing and water pollution. Surprising results in this study show howlegislative factors have also played a big role in this trend. The lack of implementation of fishing laws, inadequate resources for the implementation of fisheries programs, inconsistent policies and the lack of political will are just some of the legislative factors in the study that are identified as significant risk factors. 

 

Another significant factor that also indirectly contributed to declining harvests is the low income of fishermen and fish traders. The low and seasonal income has forced fishermen and traders to look for other sources of income and eventually leave the fishing industry. In fact, survey has shown that most fishermen interviewed would leave fishing if given the opportunity to seek greener pastures.

 

Recommendations

 

The study has made numerous recommendations to help address these major factors. The study primarily recommends that the government and the local fishing community should work together to strongly implement fishing and environmental policies and programs. 

 

The study also recommends that the partnership of LGUs and the local fishing communities in developing alternative livelihood programs for the fishermen and traders while providing training and support for improved and environmentally sound fishing practices. — TJD, GMA News