The government should put an end to muro-ami by strictly enforcing the 1998 Fisheries Code which bans destructive fishing methods, said Greenpeace Philippines Oceans campaigner Vince Cinches.
Implementing the full force of the law would also curb the trafficking of people who are forced to work as divers without proper gear and under abusive work conditions.
“Muro-ami operation is not only dangerous to fisherfolk but all the more destructive to our ecosystem,” said Cinches.
He said the escape of at least 78 fishermen from Cebu and Bohol from a muro-ami operation in Palawan last Tuesday is an indicator that the industry is very much alive.
“We urge all government agencies and sectors to pool resources against all forms of destructive fishing. This is really bad. Last June 2014, Philippines was given a yellow card as a non-cooperating country against illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing,” Cinches said.
Muro-ami is a deep sea fishing method which uses nets set up by divers who also pound coral reefs to scare fish to the waiting nets. It was introduced by Japanese fishermen to Manila and Singapore in 1919. The method resulted in the rapid decline of fish population and severely damaged coral reefs.
Republic Act 8550 or the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998 bans muro-ami fishing nationwide. “It is important to monitor all our coastal towns and cities and strongly constitute our fisheries and aquatic management councils to deny illegal recruiters base of operations,” he said.
“The recruitment is scandalous and underscores the urgent need to allow our seas to recover from a long history of exploitation. The fishing industry now resorts to slavery at sea to minimize their operational cost. Slavery is unacceptable,” he added.
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