BFAR: 7 Oriental Mindoro municipalities may resume fishing activities

The provincial government of Oriental Mindoro may consider ordering the resumption of fishing activities in seven municipalities affected by the oil spill, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said Monday.

"The fishing waters in Clusters 4 (Bongabong, Roxas, Mansalay, Bulalacao) and 5 (Puerto Galera, Baco, San Teodoro) were found to be within acceptable standards for fishing activities. The provincial government of Mindoro may consider the resumption of fishing activities in the said municipalities,” BFAR said in a statement.

Meanwhile, it still recommended keeping the fishing ban in Calapan, Naujan, Pola, Pinamalayan, Gloria, and Bansud due to the risk of contamination from traces of oil that have yet to be removed from the area.

BFAR said traces of oil were observed during onsite monitoring of sea surface in Pola, Pinamalayan, Gloria, and Bansud during sampling.

It said water samples collected last April 24 showed that oil and grease remained in affected areas but these are still within the standard (3.0 mg/L) set by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for Class SC waters or Fishery Water Class and Recreational Water Class that are suited for boating and fishing activities, as well as fish propagation intended for commercial and sustenance purposes.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), on the other hand, were no longer detected in most of the fish samples collected last April 17, except for pelagic fish samples from Pinamalayan, Gloria, Bansud, Bongabong, Roxas, Mansalay, Bulalacao, Puerto Galera, Baco, and San Teodoro.

BFAR said the pelagic fish samples still contained minimal levels of less toxic PAHs, but the most toxic ones were no longer detected. Generally, the recent analyses showed lower PAH levels compared to the previous test results, it said.

It said it will continue monitoring oil spill-hit areas for a time-series observation, which will be the basis of its recommendations for concerned government agencies and local government offices.

The bureau said it has recommended the following alternative fishing grounds to help those affected by the imposition of ban:

• Paluan, Abra de Ilog, San Jose, and Magsaysay in Occidental Mindoro;
• Boac and Gasan in Marinduque; and
• Concepcion in Romblon.

BFAR will provide the fishermen with fuel subsidies as additional assistance.

It is also eyeing to provide over P117.86 million worth of emergency and relief assistance, early recovery efforts, and mid-to-long term recovery aid to oil spill-hit areas.

Of the amount, P4.4 million was already spent for post-harvest training for various fisherfolk associations and cooperatives and over P1.5 million was utilized for food assistance to more than 5,000 affected fisherfolk in MIMAROPA.

It said millions-worth of funds were also allocated for the ongoing grant and capacity building efforts of fiberglass-reinforced plastic (FRP) boats with marine engines to affected fisherfolk in Oriental Mindoro. In addition, the bureau has deployed monitoring, control, and surveillance (MCS) vessels, as well as PPE sets and other materials for clean-up activities.

It further said supplementary interventions are in the pipeline, including the grant of additional FRP boats, fish aggregating devices, aquaculture feed mill projects, bangus fry, tilapia fingerlings, and fish cages to areas affected by the oil spill.—AOL, GMA Integrated News