Mga mag-aalimasag sa Negros, nangangambang mawalan ng hanapbuhay dahil sa desisyon ng Korte Suprema
- The Supreme Court’s decision allowing commercial fishing vessels in municipal waters has sparked fears among small fishermen in Negros Occidental, particularly crab catchers in E.B. Magalona
- Negros Occidental's billion-peso blue crab industry, which provides livelihoods for thousands, faces uncertainty as larger fishing operations may outcompete small-scale fishermen
- Many fishermen earn very little after fuel costs, with some making only P160 after two days at sea
- Fishermen and business owners fear the impact of commercial vessels and illegal fishing practices
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Small fishermen in Negros Occidental fear losing their livelihood after the Supreme Court allowed commercial fishing vessels to enter municipal waters, including areas where they catch crabs, like in E.B. Magalona.
Source: Youtube
Municipal waters extend 15 kilometers from the coast, and the province’s blue crab industry, worth billions of pesos, supports thousands of fishermen and entrepreneurs.
Negros Occidental produces tons of crab meat daily, exporting it abroad.
However, with larger fishing operations now allowed, small-scale fishermen worry about competition.
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The ruling affects 19 towns in Panay, five in Guimaras, and 24 in Negros Occidental, impacting around 30,000 fishermen, including 5,000 crab catchers.
Many are already struggling—crabs sell for just P160 per kilo, and after fuel costs, earnings are meager.
Mary Jane, one of the few female fishermen, catches crabs to help her husband support their children’s education.
She explains that peak season (May–August) allows them to catch 15 to 18 kilos a day, but off-season catches drop to one or two kilos.
On one trip, she earned only P160 after two days at sea, barely enough for food.
The uncertainty of their future weighs heavily.
“Maging kawawa kami, Ma'am. Kung hindi sila papasok dito, sa amin pa 'yan, mahuli pa 'yan namin. Pero 'pag pumasok sila dito wala kami magagawa," she said.
"Tanggapin na lang kahit masakit sa dibdib. Kasi may mga estudyante pinag-aaral. Tapos kung papayagan sila pumasok dito, 'di na namin silang kaya mapag-aral. Kahit 'yung kita namin ngayon hindi na nagkasya sa gabi," she added.
Businesses that process crab meat, like Analyn’s, which employs 60 workers, also face risks.
If commercial vessels dominate municipal waters, small fishermen and their suppliers fear losing their income entirely.
Adding to their struggles, illegal fishermen using trollers often destroy crab-catching equipment, further reducing their harvest.
With their livelihood under threat, small fishermen now seek government intervention to protect their industry.
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In other news, a land dispute in Mindoro ended in the tragic deaths of two people. Two others were wounded in the incident which shocked the peace-loving community. Authorities are looking at land dispute as the motive for the crime. The Occidental Mindoro Provincial Police Office have formed a special task force to investigate the incident and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Still in other news, a father and his nine-year-old child, along with his nine-year-old relative died. They were riding a tricycle and on their way to school when they collided with a truck. Based on the investigation, as reported by GMA Regional TV One Mindanao, the tricycle tried to overtake a motorcycle. That was when it collided with a forward truck that was carrying motorcycles.
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Source: KAMI.com.gh
