Marcos eyes imposing fishing ban to address overfishing

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Tuesday said the government would address overfishing as he also aims to boost the country’s fish population and aquaculture.

Marcos said the government is eyeing to impose fishing ban and other restrictions in certain areas, particularly those intended for fish breeding and propagation.

He, however, did not mention the areas where the fishing ban would be imposed.

“Kung minsan kailangan ‘wag uubusin yung isda para sa next season mayroon pa. Kaya yun yung tinitingnan natin ngayon,” the President said.

(Sometimes, we should not catch all the fish so we could still harvest for the next season. That's what we're looking at right now.)

“At may mga lugar na hindi dapat gawin palaisdaan dahil ito nga ay para sa breeding,” Marcos added. “Para dumami ang population ng mga isda. Kaya 'yun ang ating pinaplano.”

(Some areas should not be transformed into fisheries because they should be used as breeding grounds. That’s to improve the population of fish. That’s what we are planning to do.)

Marcos pointed out that developing the Philippine agriculture not only means securing the supply of rice and corn but also improving fisheries and livestock.

The President said that 30% of the fish catch has been “degraded or damaged.” He said the government would establish more cold storage to address this.

“Walang cold storage. Kaya nagtatayo tayo ng cold storage. Doon naman sa mga maliliit na bagsakan ay magbibigay tayo ng gawaan ng yelo, para ‘yung yelo na ‘yan, ‘yun ‘yung ilalagay nila sa bangka para pag may nahuli sila, ilalagay lang doon sa yelo at hindi masira ‘yung isda,” Marcos said.

(There's no cold storage. That's why we construct cold storage. We will also put up areas where ice will be produced. Those ice will be used so that the fish will not be spoiled.) — RSJ, GMA Integrated News