THEY come like a thief in the night.
Small-scale fishers in the San Miguel Bay town of Calabanga in Camarines Sur complain that commercial fishers undermine their only source of livelihood.
"Most of the commercial fishers operate at night in more than 20 fishing vessels," said Alex Asagra, 35, who has been fisherman for 10 years in Barangay (village) Bonot-Sta. Rosa.
He said some commercial fishers were using finely-meshed nets which capture even fingerlings that little would be left for them (small-scale fishers) to catch.
Depleted
"Most of the residents in the 11 coastal villages rely solely on fishing as their main source of livelihood," said Gil Gabriel H. Bordado, municipal agriculturist.
There are about 19, 295 residents in the 11 coastal villages, according to the latest population census. The 11 villages are Sabang, Sogod, Balatasan, Balongay, Salvacion- Baybay, Bonot-Sta. Rosa, Belen, Manguiring, Sibobo, Cagsao, and Punta Tarawal.
"But the fish catch in San Miguel Bay is depleting because of the large number of fishers in the same area of the bay."
The municipal waters of Calabanga cover 17, 721 hectares, according to the municipal agriculture office.
The entry of big commercial fishers, especially those who use finely-meshed nets, had added to the worsening economic situation of small-scale.
Bordado said that although large commercial vessels were only allowed to fish 15 kilometers from the shoreline, many would still ply, illegally, the municipal waters, to the disadvantage of small-scale fishers.
"Despite the placing of a marker in the bay waters, commercial vessels still enter the area where they are not allowed to fish," said Asagra.
He said they just stay out of way and refrain from airing their complaints when they encounter illegal fishers "for fear of being harassed."
Apprehension
The municipal government had deputized fish wardens in the coastal villages to apprehend illegal fishers.
This first week of August, the municipal government in coordination with the town police, fish wardens, and barangay officials apprehended eight suspected illegal fishers aboard two fishing vessels.
The suspected illegal fishers were charged with violation of Republic Act Number 8550 (RA 8550), otherwise known as the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998.
According to reports from the town police, four of the suspects were from neighboring town of Cabusao. The report further said that the operator of one fishing vessel is a military man.
Shortage of fund
"Apprehension of illegal fishers helps. Whenever some of them were apprehended, most of the other would cease operations. But that is only temporary as they soon resume," said Asagra.
Bordado said they had intensified campaign against illegal fishers but were limited by shortage of enough funds.
"We have been urging some fishers to try other sources of livelihood. We have implemented programs aimed to detach them gradually from the sea. But it is hard to convince those who are used to fishing."
Alternative livelihood
With the presence of commercial vessels who give unfair competition, fishers in Barangay Bonot-Sta.Rosa, including Asagra, have learned to harness the other resources of the bay.
Some have turned netting krill, small crustaceans locally called as balaw, during low tides.
To net krill, one needs to wade for at least two hours in the bay waters, sometimes under the midday sun.
Krill would sell from P7 to P15 per kilogram, depending on quality. The average income of fishers from selling krill is P150 a day.