Fisheries code: Stiffer penalties for pollutants

President Bongbong Marcos’ SONA elicited mixed reactions. While some politicians praised it for its comprehensiveness, some cause-oriented groups criticized it for its lack of substance. Well, that is understandable. We all have different preferences. We also have diverse biases and vested interests.

Truth be told, though there were planned projects that fascinated a lot of politicians, there was one proposal that seemed buried and was left unnoticed by those (politicians) who were only waiting for announcements of huge undertakings that they can profit on. The amendment of the Fisheries Code of 1998.

Undeniably, the mere mention of this code isn’t a head-turner to most politicians. However, it does matter to both smalltime fishermen and commercial fishers. In fact, a cause-oriented group has made its stand already clear on certain provisions even before congressmen can return to their seats in congress. That, allegedly, the amendments will only favor commercial fishers.

Whatever its motives are, let us set that aside for the time being. What is important is, we shall all together understand the significance of the fisheries code and its impact to food security and the ocean economy.

Undeniably, the ocean, due to its vastness will always remain a mystery. However, its potential is a certainty. Its resources are now viewed as central in our efforts to address the multitude of challenges that humanity is expected to face in the coming decades. For one, pundits projected that by 2050, “the world’s population shall be at least 9 billion.” With such size, the demands for food, jobs, energy, raw materials and economic growth will be enormous.  Certainly, the massiveness of the ocean (both the surface as well as its resources down deep) has the potential to help meet these requirements. Collectively, these potentials and those that we’ve already enjoyed now is called the ocean economy.

The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) defines ocean economy as the “the sum of the economic activities of ocean-based industries, together with the assets, goods and services of marine ecosystems.” This includes among others, “marine fishing and aquaculture, coastal and marine tourism, extractive industries (e.g. oil and gas, sea-bed mining), transport and logistics industries (freight and passenger transport), shipbuilding industries, renewable energy and marine biotechnologies.”

OECD projected that the “value added generated by ocean-based industry globally could double in size from US$ 1.5 trillion in global value added in 2010 (the base year) to US$ 3 trillion in 2030.” As observed, there is a noticeable increase in economic activity in the ocean. It is a combination of the “briskly expanding ocean industries and expectations of moderate growth in already large industries like maritime and coastal tourism, offshore oil and gas, shipbuilding and maritime equipment.”

Some ocean industries though are expected to grow faster than the world economy.  OECD singled out “marine aquaculture, capture fisheries, fish processing, offshore wind, and port activities.” Consequently, “employment in ocean-based industries as a whole is also set to more than double by 2030 (over 40 million).” Notably, “above-average job growth is expected in almost all the sectors included in the study, with especially rapid employment growth occurring for example in marine aquaculture, fish processing, offshore wind and port activities.”

As an island nation, we can also tap our own side of the ocean. The potential is unlimited.  However, one of our biggest hindrances is pollution. We need not go that far. Tañon Strait (supposedly, a protected area) has huge potential. Sadly though, the City of Bais and the Municipality of Manjuyod have a deleterious concern to address. An ethanol plant right at the boundary of the City of Bais and the Municipality of Manjuyod is freely releasing its black and muddy liquid waste into the Bais North Bay. This pollutant has turned the sand a tad brown and the seawater a bit murky along the shoreline and in several islets in the area. Consequently, the poor fishermen were badly affected. Their livelihoods were severely diminished.

Agreeably though, factories in the countryside are providing livelihood to the rural folks.  Obviously, it prevents rural exodus. However, we can’t just simply provide wages to a few and kill the livelihood of the rest.

Therefore, the proposed amendment to the fisheries code must include raising the penalties to all aquatic pollutants. Though imprisonment of up to twelve (12) years is reasonable, the fine of eighty thousand pesos (P80,000.00) plus an additional fine of eight thousand pesos (P8,000.00) per day until such violation ceases and the fines paid is too petty for factory owners who are raking in hundreds of millions or even billions a year.

If possible, permanent closure must be considered.