BALANGA CITY –The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources has set Balanga City as its pilot area in coastal zoning.
BFAR in coordination with the city government of Balanga and the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA) installed on Thursday along the portion of Manila Bay six sets of buoys.
Villamor Santos, city fishery consultant, said the markers are for coastal zoning. “This will be implemented not only in Bataan but the whole of Region 3. BFAR started the project in Balanga as its pilot area,” he said.
The buoys, made of empty drums with styrofoam inside, serve as floaters while those made of concrete as sinkers. These were dropped to the sea to mark the boundary of the municipal/city waters between Balanga and Abucay town in the north and Balanga and Pilar town in the south.
“Totally, ipinagbabawal ang paggamit ng destructive fishing gear at commercial fishing sa loob ng mga boyang ito. Tanging mga bangkang pangisda na may bigat na tatlong tonelada pababa lamang ang maaaring mangisda rito pwera na lamang kung may declared na fish sanctuary,” Santos said.
He said the buoys will also serve as guide to those who will construct tahong fishpens. “Malalaman na ngayon kung anong bayan ang nakakasakop sa mga tahungan at hindi hula-hula lamang,” he said.
Roberto Malibiran, president of the City Fishery and Aquatic Resources Management Council (CFARMC), said the markers will prevent heated arguments between fishermen.
“Malimit na nagtatalo kapag sinisita ng mangingisda ang ibang mangingisda kung bakit pumapasok sa nasasakupan nila. Dahil may marker na, ituturo lamang ang mga ito at malalaman na kung anong bayan ang nakakasakop dito,” Malibiran who is also Bataan FARMC president said.
“Ito’y para malagay sa ayos ang mga mangingisda,” Santos said.
Engr. Cecil Guila of the City Assessor’s Office said NAMRIA provided the coordinates that he plotted to determine the coastal boundaries. “Madaling ma-delineate ang coastal boundary gamit ang Global Positioning System.
He guided the fishing boat skipper to where the buoys were installed.
Santos said BFAR provided materials for the buoys while the city government under Mayor Jose Enrique Garcia III took charge of the manpower. Members of the CFARMC fabricated the concrete buoy sinkers.
