Zambales fishing ban called unauthorized as submarine cable maintenance commences

A GROUP of fisherfolk said it is protesting a temporary fishing ban declared for San Felipe, Zambales to accommodate maintenance work on a submarine cable.

In a statement on Monday, the Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA) questioned the validity of the restrictions, which they said disrupted fishing activities and affected the income of small-scale fisherfolk in the area.

According to the group, the Chinese-flagged supply vessel Feng Hua 21, operated by FH Offshore Engineering, arrived in San Felipe on Feb. 5 to carry out repair and maintenance work for the Luzon Festoon Cable Repair and Maintenance Project.

“It is unacceptable to ban fishing to accommodate the operations of a foreign vessel,” PAMALAKAYA National Chairperson Fernando L. Hicap was quoted as saying in the statement.

Mr. Hicap also cited previous offshore activities by Chinese firms in the area, which he said disrupted fishing operations and damaged marine resources.

The group also raised concerns over the legal basis of the restriction, noting the absence of a provincial ordinance or a formal declaration from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) authorizing a fishing ban.

“The fishing ban is arbitrary and has no legal basis in the absence of a formal declaration from the appropriate government agency,” Mr. Hicap said.

The group said the cable repair and maintenance work is expected to continue until March and will also affect other coastal areas, including Dasol, Pangasinan; Luna, La Union; and Nasugbu, Batangas. — Vonn Andrei E. Villamiel