CRANE-Caramoan

Caramoan Mayor Francis Benemerito this week said he would intensify his campaign against illegal fishing following reports that there is again rampant blast fishing near the Caramoan-Garchitorena boundary and that fish poisoning has again become frequent around the island barangays of the municipality and in the eastern coastal barangays.

At the same time, the Caramoan Residents Association in Naga City and its Environs (CRANE) urged the Sangguniang Bayan to pass new ordinances that would not only discourage but prohibit gathering of endangered shell species particularly giant clams and another large-size shell locally known as “Hamudyong”.

Immediately after his assumption in office in July, 2004 Mayor Benemerito launched a massive campaign against illegal fishing resulting in the apprehension of a number of fishing vessels using fishing gears with fine mesh nets not allowed under existing fishery laws. Several suspected blast fishermen were also apprehended.

Fish poisoning using cyanide has also become prevalent around the island barangays of Oring, Daraga, Gogon, Haponan and the fishing island village called Guinahoan. Fish poisoning does not only destroy marine life but also poses serious danger to health that may result in the death of persons who eat poisoned fish.

Blast fishing and fish poisoning are also destructive to seaweeds farming on which some 70% of coastal inhabitants around the Caramoan Peninsula are dependent.

This was clearly pointed out in an article in the June, 2006 issue of The CRANE MONITOR by CSSAC Professor Raul B. Ruiz, who himself hails from Tabgon, Caramoan, one of the barangays whose residents are mostly relying on income from seaweeds. He said that because of dynamite fishing and fish poisoning, seaweeds turn white, wither and eventually die.

Because of these findings seaweeds farmers will be tapped by the municipal government in the campaign against illegal fishing since they are directly affected.

Meanwhile, a reward system is being mulled by the CRANE for informants on the suppliers of fish poison and dynamite.