South China Sea: Filipino,
Vietnamese Fisherfolk Complain
About China’s Intrusion, Rape
and Pillaging of Marine Life
& Coral Reefs
.
May 24, 2015
Pag-asa (Thitu) Island, is the second largest of the naturally occurring Spratly (Kalayaan) Islands and the largest of the Philippine-administered maritime features in the South China Sea. Unahai image
MANILA, Philippines — Residents of Philippine-occupied Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea are not fazed by the growing Chinese’ militaristic presence in the disputed waters, but the foreigners’ economic practices leave Filipinos worried.
Mary Joy Batiancila, Pag-asa administrator, said fisherfolk are deeply concerned about the banned fishing activities of Chinese and Vietnamese fishermen who intrude in what the Philippines considers as its exclusive economic zone.
This is the tiny schoolhouse for Filipino children on Pag-asa
Philippine Coast Guard, Pag-asa barangay officials and fishermen would regularly chase or warn illegal fishers away but they kept on returning.
“They are engaged in blast or dynamite fishing. They also use cyanide,” Batiancila said.
RELATED: Philippines: China’s expansion destroys coral reef, livelihood
As a result, the natural ecosystem and the “bahura” or coral reefs around Pag-asa Island are destroyed and the source of livelihood of Filipino fisherfolk are adversely affected.
“[The foreign fishing activity] leads to a drop in the fish catch or incomes of our own fishermen,” she said.
Kalayaan town mayor Eugenio Bitoon-on said these illegal fishing activities made local officials of Kalayaan and Palawan province alert worried over the condition of the sea, considered one of the richest fishing grounds in the country.
Batiancila, meanwhile, said the area around Pag-asa alone is abundant with turtles, dolphins, manta rays and various kinds of fish.
Pag-asa is surrounded by around 20 to 30 hectares of reefs that are home to aquarium and commercial fish.
It provides livelihood and food for the island’s 200 dwellers. It is often visited by rare types of turtles like the endangered leatherback.
Just some three nautical miles away from Pag-asa is a sandbar islanders call the “Secret Island,” Batiancila said.
The island is also home to teeming marine life which the Islanders are keeping watch over.
About 25.7 kilometers from Pag-asa is Subi Reef, also of the Spratlys or Kalayaan Island group.
On Subi Reef, China government are undertaking massive reclamation and building structures, in the process destroying sea life and hectares upon hectares of coral reefs.
Bitoon-on said the Chinese seem bent on transforming the reef into a man-made island.
Chinese and Vietnamese fishermen often visit Subi Reef and the Secret Island to gather giant clams from the area, leading to a significant decline of the resource, according to recent surveys by the Coast Guard and local officials.
“We cannot perform arrests against them even though we have the maritime police with us. We do not have facilities and transportation to stand against them,” Batiancila said.
She said the least authorities could do is chase away the foreign fishers every chance they get.
“But we can never engage them,” she said.
Despite not having the right facilities, the people of Pag-asa and the local officials of Kalayaan and Palawan expressed utmost support in protecting the natural treasures of West Philippine Sea.
Bitoon-on said he is thankful for the support the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Coast Guard extend to Pag-asa.
He said he is confident Pag-asa residents are secure and safe in their homes on the island.
For now, local government is keen on developing another means of livelihood for their consistuents—a tourism route through West Philippine Sea which will include Pag-asa Island.
Bitoon-on said the new industry would help generate more jobs and income for those residing in the Kalayaan islands.
AFP chief-of-staff Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang, in his May 11 visit in Pag-asa Island, called on people to continue backing the country’s maritime and territorial claims despite stiff opposition, especially from China.
“This is ours!” Catapang declared, thereby setting a battle cry for the Philippine military in asserting sovereignty over the potentially gas-rich maritime features.
The military leader assured residents of security for tourism-related plans for the disputed areas, expressing optimism that the rich reefs around Pag-asa will attract domestic and international tourism. – Priam Nepomuceno, Philippine News Agency
http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2015/05/24/1458257/chinese-blast-fishing-pag-asa-threatens-islands-livelihood
Related:
Philippines, Indonesia to revive bilateral accord amid concerns over illegal fishing
Vietnam Unhappy With China’s Abuse of Its Rights, Fishermen (Contains links to several related articles)
Lonely Vigil: Soldiers and Civilians From The Philippines Keep Watch For China’s Aggression in the South China Sea
Vietnam Will Ignore China’s “Unlawful” Unilateral Fishing Ban in the South China Sea
China’s Sea Activities Have Worried Neighbors, Fueled An Arms Race
Chinese ships illegally fishing off the coast of Africa, Greenpeace says
Despite U.S. Failure To Get China To Stop South China Sea Bullying, The Philippines Vows To Continue To Fight Using All Peaceful Means
Fishermen from the Philippines Report Aggression, Harassment from Poaching Chinese Coast Guard Sailors
China says it is concerned over Indonesia’s blowing up of seized fishing boat
Indonesia sinks foreign boats to deter illegal fishing
South China Sea: Indonesia Continues To Sink Fishing Boats It Accuses of Illegal Fishing or Poaching
Vietnamese Fishermen, Corrupt Cambodian Officials and the Illegal Squid Trade
Peace and Freedom editor’s note: Filipinos frequently use words like “swarms” to describe the Chinese fishermen and tourists that seem to come into the islands en-masse.
South China Sea and West Philippine Sea has more frequent visits from Chinese tourists.
Divers who went down to visit a sunk World War II era Japanese warship off the coast of Palau were surprised to find that someone had recently erected a large Chinese national flag.
China-Japan Relations Anger: Chinese national flag found mounted to wreckage of sunken Japanese warship
Chinese tourists and sports fishermen have been observed harvesting protected species
Chinese tourists are hunting endangered fish on disputed islands in the South China Sea
Dozens of Chinese dredgers and support craft work to make a small spit of sand a new man made island big enough for a military base.
Mary Joy Batiancila, Pag-asa administrator, said fisherfolk are deeply concerned about the banned fishing activities of Chinese and Vietnamese fishermen who intrude in what the Philippines considers as its exclusive economic zone.
This is the tiny schoolhouse for Filipino children on Pag-asa
Philippine Coast Guard, Pag-asa barangay officials and fishermen would regularly chase or warn illegal fishers away but they kept on returning.
“They are engaged in blast or dynamite fishing. They also use cyanide,” Batiancila said.
RELATED: Philippines: China’s expansion destroys coral reef, livelihood
As a result, the natural ecosystem and the “bahura” or coral reefs around Pag-asa Island are destroyed and the source of livelihood of Filipino fisherfolk are adversely affected.
“[The foreign fishing activity] leads to a drop in the fish catch or incomes of our own fishermen,” she said.
Kalayaan town mayor Eugenio Bitoon-on said these illegal fishing activities made local officials of Kalayaan and Palawan province alert worried over the condition of the sea, considered one of the richest fishing grounds in the country.
Batiancila, meanwhile, said the area around Pag-asa alone is abundant with turtles, dolphins, manta rays and various kinds of fish.
Pag-asa is surrounded by around 20 to 30 hectares of reefs that are home to aquarium and commercial fish.
It provides livelihood and food for the island’s 200 dwellers. It is often visited by rare types of turtles like the endangered leatherback.
Just some three nautical miles away from Pag-asa is a sandbar islanders call the “Secret Island,” Batiancila said.
A total of 555 turtles were found in a seized Chinese fishing boat in November 2014. In the picture are 93 of the dead turtles. The Chinese were jailed for poaching. PNP-SBU/PIA
About 25.7 kilometers from Pag-asa is Subi Reef, also of the Spratlys or Kalayaan Island group.
On Subi Reef, China government are undertaking massive reclamation and building structures, in the process destroying sea life and hectares upon hectares of coral reefs.
Bitoon-on said the Chinese seem bent on transforming the reef into a man-made island.
Chinese and Vietnamese fishermen often visit Subi Reef and the Secret Island to gather giant clams from the area, leading to a significant decline of the resource, according to recent surveys by the Coast Guard and local officials.
“We cannot perform arrests against them even though we have the maritime police with us. We do not have facilities and transportation to stand against them,” Batiancila said.
She said the least authorities could do is chase away the foreign fishers every chance they get.
“But we can never engage them,” she said.
Despite not having the right facilities, the people of Pag-asa and the local officials of Kalayaan and Palawan expressed utmost support in protecting the natural treasures of West Philippine Sea.
Bitoon-on said he is thankful for the support the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Coast Guard extend to Pag-asa.
He said he is confident Pag-asa residents are secure and safe in their homes on the island.
For now, local government is keen on developing another means of livelihood for their consistuents—a tourism route through West Philippine Sea which will include Pag-asa Island.
Bitoon-on said the new industry would help generate more jobs and income for those residing in the Kalayaan islands.
AFP chief-of-staff Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang, in his May 11 visit in Pag-asa Island, called on people to continue backing the country’s maritime and territorial claims despite stiff opposition, especially from China.
“This is ours!” Catapang declared, thereby setting a battle cry for the Philippine military in asserting sovereignty over the potentially gas-rich maritime features.
The military leader assured residents of security for tourism-related plans for the disputed areas, expressing optimism that the rich reefs around Pag-asa will attract domestic and international tourism. – Priam Nepomuceno, Philippine News Agency
http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2015/05/24/1458257/chinese-blast-fishing-pag-asa-threatens-islands-livelihood
Related:
Philippines, Indonesia to revive bilateral accord amid concerns over illegal fishing
Vietnam Unhappy With China’s Abuse of Its Rights, Fishermen (Contains links to several related articles)
Lonely Vigil: Soldiers and Civilians From The Philippines Keep Watch For China’s Aggression in the South China Sea
Vietnam Will Ignore China’s “Unlawful” Unilateral Fishing Ban in the South China Sea
China’s Sea Activities Have Worried Neighbors, Fueled An Arms Race
Chinese ships illegally fishing off the coast of Africa, Greenpeace says
Despite U.S. Failure To Get China To Stop South China Sea Bullying, The Philippines Vows To Continue To Fight Using All Peaceful Means
Fishermen from the Philippines Report Aggression, Harassment from Poaching Chinese Coast Guard Sailors
China says it is concerned over Indonesia’s blowing up of seized fishing boat
Indonesia sinks foreign boats to deter illegal fishing
South China Sea: Indonesia Continues To Sink Fishing Boats It Accuses of Illegal Fishing or Poaching
Vietnamese Fishermen, Corrupt Cambodian Officials and the Illegal Squid Trade
Peace and Freedom editor’s note: Filipinos frequently use words like “swarms” to describe the Chinese fishermen and tourists that seem to come into the islands en-masse.
South China Sea and West Philippine Sea has more frequent visits from Chinese tourists.
Divers who went down to visit a sunk World War II era Japanese warship off the coast of Palau were surprised to find that someone had recently erected a large Chinese national flag.
China-Japan Relations Anger: Chinese national flag found mounted to wreckage of sunken Japanese warship
Chinese tourists and sports fishermen have been observed harvesting protected species
Chinese tourists are hunting endangered fish on disputed islands in the South China Sea
Dozens of Chinese dredgers and support craft work to make a small spit of sand a new man made island big enough for a military base.
Filipinos protest against China in the South China Sea, April 17, 2015
*
Vietnamese and Filipino fishermen have equal disdain for the way they are treated by Chinese government and Chinese fishermen….
RELATED:Palace to Beijing: What exaggeration? Facts speak for themselves
Related:
Beijing says Philippines, U.S. ‘exaggerate China threat’ in sea dispute
South Korea vows to get tough with illegal Chinese fishing
Philippines says China using aggressive tactics against it in South China Sea
Beijing’s Power Play in the South China Sea Finds More Critics Daily: Now Experts Say China Is Killing Precious Coral Reef Ecosystems
South China Sea: Environmentalists demand China to stop ‘ecological destruction’
South China Sea: Philippines Says China Is Destroying Reefs, Ecosystem, Giant Clams
Chinese Tourists fishing for endangered species in South China Sea prompts crackdown
Philippines Tells ASEAN: Our Credibility is At Stake in “Worsening Situation” of China in South China Sea
Beijing’s South China Sea projects ‘highly disruptive’ to local ecosystems
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Image: Chinese fishing vessels are seen anchored at Fiery Cross Reef — part of the Spratly islands — and under the watchful eye of China’s navy. There is a huge economic aspect of China’s interest in the South China Sea. Immense reserves of petroleum and natural gas are below the South China Sea and the sea itself is teeming with marine life and other foods valuable to the Chinese. The islands in this region are claimed partially or in their entirety by Taiwan, China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Philippines and Brunei. AFP photo
Filipino and Vietnamese fishermen complain that the Chinese come in such great numbers and “clean out” and the edible fish….
75 Thai fishing boats and trawlers stranded in the Ambon Island harbour, Indonesia, as authorities there investigate illegal fishing, May 20, 2015. (Photo by Jetjaras Na Ranong, Bangkok Post)
Who “owns” the South China Sea? China says most of this area of the globe is owned by China.
China says it owns all the South China Sea north of the “nine dash line” shown above
China claims ownership of about 90% of the South China Sea. Most of China’s neighbors believe otherwise.
Chinese amphibious ship Changbai Shan near James Shoal, an area also claimed by Malaysia, January 26, 2014 Photo by AP
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