BFAR mulls fishing ban in areas affected by Bataan oil spill

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said Sunday it is set to sample fishes in areas affected by the oil spill from the sunken MT Terra Nova off Bataan to determine if there is a need to declare a fishing ban.

BFAR spokesperson Nazario Briguera said that the livelihood of thousands of fishermen may be affected should they be temporarily prohibited from fishing due to the oil spill.

“Doon sa pangingisda, we are yet to coordinate with the local government units sa pagdedeklara ng fishing ban,” he said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview.

(We have yet to coordinate with the local government units in declaring a fishing ban.)

“Sa ngayon kasi, we still have to gather, consolidate all the relevant information. Kami, magsasagawa pa kami ng sampling sa mga isda. Ang DENR, nagsa-sampling na rin ng tubig,” he added.

(Right now, we still have to gather and consolidate all the relevant information. We still need to sample the fish. The DENR is also sampling the water.)

According to Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga, the oil spill might affect Bulacan, Cavite, and Pampanga.

As of Saturday, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) described the oil spill as 12 to 14 kilometers long but still "manageable."

Technical divers of Harbor Star, the salvor chartered to work on the M/T Terra Nova, however, discovered a small leak coming from the tank valve.

Briguera said BFAR is encouraging fisherfolks to monitor their surroundings to see if the oil spill is already spreading in their area.

“‘Yung isda kasi, they can actually swim away from the affected area. Hindi naman kaagad ‘yan talaga maaapektuhan,” he said.

(The fishes can actually swim away from the affected area. They won't really be affected right away.)

“Pero kung malawakan na ang pagtagas, kailangan talaga magkaroon na ng pag-aanalisa mismo do’n sa mga isda kung meron nang contamination na nangyayari sa kanila.”

(But if the leakage is already widespread, there has to be an analysis of the fishes to see if there is already contamination.)

Despite this, Briguera said that the government is ready to assist fishermen who will be affected by the possible fishing ban.

The MT Terra Nova capsized and caused an oil spill in Bataan early Thursday.

MT Terra Nova, which was heading to Iloilo, was carrying 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel when it capsized 3.6 nautical miles east off Lamao Point in Limay town in Bataan.

According to the PCG, 16 of the 17 crew members were rescued, while one crewman was found dead.

On Friday, the PCG said it started collecting oil to counter the spread of the spill.

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Saturday ordered the creation of an inter-agency task force that would address the oil spill. —KG, GMA Integrated News