Bay off Ilocos Norte coast tagged as rich
alternative fishing ground
- San Fernando City -
- Officials of the regional
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources said the 100-km Pasaleng Bay off Pagudpud,
Ilocos Norte, could be an alternative fishing ground to the overfished Lingayen Gulf
because of its rich marine resources.
- Nestor Domenden, regional
BFAR director, said Pasaleng Bay is a rich source of seaweed and various fish species like
reef fish, tuna, grouper and lobsters for the Ilocos region.
- He said the bay, which
faces the Babuyan Islands, is very close to the path of the Kuroshio current, a warm ocean
current that brings with it a number of migratory fish from the East China Sea, the
Pacific Ocean and Japan Sea.
- BFAR's national assessment
program showed that the Pasaleng Bay can be an alternative fishing ground to the Lingayen
Gulf which has been wracked by illegal fishing.
- Earlier this year, more
than 80 commercial fishing vessels were found to be operating in the gulf.
- At least 23 commercial
vessel operators in the Lingayen Gulf were arrested by the Philippine Maritime Command
personnel.
- Domenden said the BFAR has
launched 12 Eucheuma alvarezu (a variety of seaweed) technology demonstration projects in
Anda, Alaminos and Bolinao towns in Pangasinan; in San Juan, Ilocos Sur; and in Currimao,
Ilocos Norte.
- He said the project was
designed to improve the economic conditions of Ilocos fisherfolk who have been complaining
of a dwindling catch especially in the Lingayen Gulf.
- "The project is
expected to reduce the extraction of marine resources especially in (the) Lingayen Gulf.
(It will) introduce the production of a commodity that has a great demand in both local
and international markets," he said.
- Seaweed extracts like agar,
algin, and carageenan are used in food, pharmaceutical and dental product manufacturing,
and biological and medical research.
Courtesy of Peter La Julian, PDI
Northern Luzon Bureau, Philippine Daily Inquirer, page 18, June 28, 1999.