BFAR to bar sale of imported salmon, pampano in wet markets starting Dec. 4

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) on Thursday said it would start confiscating imported pampano and pink salmon being sold in wet markets starting December 4, saying its sale is illegal.

In Bernadette Reyes’ report on “24 Oras”, fish vendors were reminded that retailing the imported fish products is prohibited under the BFAR Fisheries Administrative Order No. 195. 

The bureau said pampano and pink salmon can only be sold to institutional buyers including hotels, restaurants, and companies in the canning and processing industries. 

“Pag ka na-flood po natin 'yung ano...nagkaroon nang maraming pampano, maraming salmon. Hindi na natin mas-stabilize ang presyo natin. Kawawa naman 'yung mga maliliit na mangingisda natin because hindi sila nabibigyan ng opportunity para magbenta po ng local products po natin,” BFAR administrative services Assistant Director Zaldy Perez said.

(If we flood our local markets with pampano or salmon, it would be difficult to stabilize the prices. It would affect small scale fishermen because they are not being given opportunities to sell their products.)

Perez said fish vendors who are selling the products have until December 3 to dispose their supply, adding BFAR will start confiscating the banned produce the next day.

“Hindi naman po talaga kami aware kasi di ba po nakukuha lang din to sa fishport eh. So syempre po kung ano yung mga possible na mga paninda lalo na salable siya, 'yun ang binebenta namin. Hindi naman po kami aware na bawal na pala,” a fish vendor said.

(We are unaware of it because we just get our supplies in the fish port. We get whatever is salable.)

Meanwhile, fishers’ group Tugon Kabuhayan said implementing policies on fish importation will provide aid to local fisherfolk.

“For lack of better term, 'yan 'yung retaso eh. Pag inilaban mo kunwari sa buong isda, sa buong tilapya 'yung retaso ng isang isda na di naman kinakain sa kanilang lugar…Dadalhin 'yan sa atin as trimmings o by-product. Ilalaban nila sa ating local produce, talagang matatamaan kasi mura. Walang bibili ng tilapya mo,” Tugon Kabuhayan convenor Layer Asis Perez said.—Sundy Locus/LDF, GMANEWS