“Patuloy ang aming pangingisda subalit nagkaka- problema kapag natapat ang dating ng mga mangingisda sa fish holiday. Sa dalawang araw na hindi nakapagpabulong at nabenta ang isda, tungo ito sa pagkabulok,” SFOI President Dalisay Cruz said.
Cruz said SFOI counts 700 members in 37 fishing boats in Sisiman, a picturesque fishing village in Mariveles. Most of the big fishing vessels sell their catch in Navotas, Metro Manila where fish holidays were declared.
“Maawa na sana ang pamahalaan at huwag na sanang magkaroon ng fish holiday. Marami ngang huling isda pero kapag inabutan ng fish holiday, wala ring mangyayari kapag nabulok,” she said.
Many members of SFOI used to fish at the disputed Scarborough Shoal but shifted to other areas like in fishing grounds near Palawan after the Chinese Coastguard harassed fishermen bombarded some fishing vessels with water cannons.
