Workers hit early ban on ‘tamban’ fishing

Zamboanga City—Tens of placard-bearing workers in the fishing industry here staged a protest on Sunday against a ban ordered by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) on sardine fishing this year.

The ban will take effect in November, a month earlier than the usual close of the season.

Cirilo Austero, one of the protesting workers, said the ban was unusual because it would be implemented earlier than expected.

He said this caught the industry flatfooted and without a plan for the next months, which would displace workers like him.

Efren Sano, another industry worker, said the early ban would mean less food for his family. “We are already poor. Tamban fishing is our bread and butter. Why would the government prohibit us (from fishing)?” Sano said.

Jose Suan, president of Philippine Integrated Industries Labor Union (Piilu-TUCP), said the ban would affect at least 30,000 workers in the fishing industry here.

George Ledesma, president of the Industrial Group of Zamboanga, said they could not understand why BFAR moved the closing of sardine fishing season from November to February instead of the usual December to March.

“(BFAR) must present scientific studies so we could understand why they should start on November instead of December, the spawning period always starts in December,” Ledesma said.

Asis Perez, BFAR national director, said the decision to impose the annual ban earlier than usual was based on scientific facts.

“During this period, tambans lay eggs and we want to protect their spawn. We want our fishers to have a continuous supply (of the fish),” he said. Julie Alipala, Inquirer Mindanao