THE sad plight of the local fishing business, particularly the tamban (sardine) fishers along the Macajalar Bay, has caught the attention of Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Rolando ‘Klarex’ Uy.
In a press release letter, Uy said it is important to address the economic problems faced by the municipal fisherfolk with the hope of providing them sustainable livelihood options.
This, as tamban supply in Cagayan de Oro, had run out since January this year fishermen have to rely on the influx of small beady-eyed fishes, locally known as hipon, for survival.
But even the seasonal hipon had disappeared from the Macajalar Bay after a huge catch of it on August 23 to the tune of over 100 styrofoam boxes off the sea waters of Tagoloan town.
“Nawala ang panamban, namingaw pa gyod ang duot sa hipon. Mag nganga na karon ang taga baybay,” said Bonbon villager Esteban Oguimas.
Mayor Uy, however, cited the need to furthermore educate the local fishers about the importance of preserving the small variety of fish and understanding the complexity of sea habitat.
“I have instructed our city Agriculture Productivity Operations Office, which has food security on top of its agenda, to plan out a sustainable livelihood program for our municipal fisherfolk, in line with the economic recovery program of my administration,” Uy’s statement reads in part.
The mayor is also encouraging a study on whether to continue or not the hunting of dulong or hipon, using fine-meshed nets which is illegal in accordance with the Philippine Fisheries Code (RA 8550).
According to the mayor’s communication group head BenCyrus Ellorin, a wanton harvest of dulong will deplete the sea richness of marine products.
“What I understand is that dulong is not a kind of fish, but a variety of post-larval and juvenile fishes which later on grow as bolinao or anchovies, tamban or sardines and other kinds of fishes,” Ellorin told Gold Star Daily.
