Panatag ‘reserve’ a threat to PH fishers’ livelihood
SAN ANTONIO, ZAMBALES—Fishers in Zambales province have slammed China’s declaration of a “marine nature reserve” in Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, rejecting the claim as both misleading and a threat to their livelihood.
According to Regino Renato Romero, chair of the Subic Hook and Line Fishermen’s Association, it is China, not Filipino fishers, that has been damaging the shoal, which locals call Bajo de Masinloc.
“They are liars. They have been the ones who have been destroying it since before, and they know that it belongs to us. But it seems like they always surprise us with such statements to turn it into a nature reserve. It’s just like their previous statement that they will arrest the fishermen. But we will continue to fight for what is ours,” Romero said in a phone interview on Wednesday.
Romero noted that 107 members of his group continue to fish in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) despite frequent harassment from China Coast Guard (CCG) patrols. Many of them have personally witnessed the destruction of coral reefs and the drop in fish catch.
Leonardo Cuaresma, president of the New Masinloc Fishermen’s Association, echoed Romero’s statement.
“Some of our fellow fishermen who were able to go near the shoal said that they are dredging, and it looks like they are [building a] foundation,” he said.
Cuaresma added that China’s claim of a nature reserve was merely a pretext to drive Filipino fishers away. Many of his group’s members have since stopped going to the shoal, choosing to fish in municipal waters instead due to increasing CCG harassment.
No credibility
In a statement issued the same day, fisherfolk group Pamalakaya denounced China’s move.
“We will never recognize China’s establishment of a nature reserve in our territorial fisheries. China has no credibility to designate a protected area in the sea that they themselves are destroying through widespread reclamation and illegal poaching,” said Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap.
He warned that the declaration could be used as a cover to further block Filipino fisherfolk from their traditional fishing grounds.
“The establishment of this nature reserve is deeply alarming and could potentially be used to further restrict Filipino fishermen from their fishing grounds,” he said.
He called on China to respect the rights of Filipino fishers and to immediately stop destructive activities such as reclamation and illegal fishing.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Monday reported receiving a radio challenge from Chinese forces in Panatag asserting the area’s supposed status as a nature reserve. This came as PCG and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources ships encountered “dangerous maneuvers and blocking actions” while on a humanitarian mission to assist Filipino fishers in the area.
