by Business World Online (bworldonline.com)
THE PHILIPPINE government will be imposing its own fishing ban in Panatag (Scarborough) shoal to improve marine life in the area, President Benigno S.C. Aquino III said yesterday.
The statement came after China’s announcement that it would suspend all fishing activities on portions of West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) from May 16 to Aug. 1 and would include the Panatag shoal.
"Yes," Mr. Aquino told reporters on the sidelines of the Mindanao Rural Development Program Congress held in Davao City when asked if the country will support the ban.
"The BFAR (Bureau of Food and Drugs) is supposed to be using some device that will improve fishing conditions elsewhere for our fishermen from especially in Masinloc, the Zambales area, and some in the Pangasinan area also," he added.
The Foreign Affairs department, however, stressed that the Philippines does "not recognize China’s fishing ban in as much as portions of the ban encompass our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)."
"However, the President has decided that, in view of the accelerated depletion of our marine resources, it would be advisable for us to issue our own fishing ban for a period of time to replenish our fish stock," Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario said in a statement following the President’s pronouncement.
The President added that the fishing ban will "help the ecosystem recover" considering the damage inflicted due to excessive fishing activities in the area.
Tension between the Philippines and China flared up after eight Chinese fishing boats were caught by the BRP Gregorio del Pilar, the Philippines’ biggest warship to date, carrying fish, corals and other endangered species harvested from the shoal. A Chinese maritime surveillance vessel arrived at the scene triggering the standoff early last month.
The Chinese government claims ownership of the Panatag (or Huangyan island in Chinese) although it is just off the coast of Zambales.
Panatag shoal is situated within the 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Philippines and is about 750 miles (1,200 kilometers) from China’s nearest point in Hainan.
Last month, the Department of Foreign Affairs said it will bring the dispute to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS).
"Yes," Mr. Aquino told reporters on the sidelines of the Mindanao Rural Development Program Congress held in Davao City when asked if the country will support the ban.
"The BFAR (Bureau of Food and Drugs) is supposed to be using some device that will improve fishing conditions elsewhere for our fishermen from especially in Masinloc, the Zambales area, and some in the Pangasinan area also," he added.
The Foreign Affairs department, however, stressed that the Philippines does "not recognize China’s fishing ban in as much as portions of the ban encompass our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)."
"However, the President has decided that, in view of the accelerated depletion of our marine resources, it would be advisable for us to issue our own fishing ban for a period of time to replenish our fish stock," Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario said in a statement following the President’s pronouncement.
The President added that the fishing ban will "help the ecosystem recover" considering the damage inflicted due to excessive fishing activities in the area.
Tension between the Philippines and China flared up after eight Chinese fishing boats were caught by the BRP Gregorio del Pilar, the Philippines’ biggest warship to date, carrying fish, corals and other endangered species harvested from the shoal. A Chinese maritime surveillance vessel arrived at the scene triggering the standoff early last month.
The Chinese government claims ownership of the Panatag (or Huangyan island in Chinese) although it is just off the coast of Zambales.
Panatag shoal is situated within the 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Philippines and is about 750 miles (1,200 kilometers) from China’s nearest point in Hainan.
Last month, the Department of Foreign Affairs said it will bring the dispute to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS).
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