While Chinese fishermen continue to ignore its government’s fishing ban, Filipino fishermen are strictly adhering to the Philippine government’s similar ban in Panatag Shoal.
Masinloc municipal secretary R-Jay Bautista said that because of the fishing ban declared by Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Panatag Shoal (Scarborough Shoal) their local fishermen have opted to fish in other areas.
Our local fishermen don’t fish there anymore because of the existing fishing ban as per directives from BFAR, Bautista said, adding that the Chinese are the only ones enjoying the rich marine resource of the disputed shoal.
Five Chinese vessels and dozens of Chinese fishing boats with utility boats are in the lagoon. There are reports that the Chinese fishermen are harvesting giant clams and corals from the Philippine territory.
On Wednesday, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported that according to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), China has 79 boats in and outside of the lagoon of Panatag Shoal.
The shoal, also named Bajo de Masinloc located 124 nautical miles from mainland Zambales, has been a scene of a tense territorial standoff between the Philippines and China for more than a month now.
The DFA reported that there are already five Chinese vessels in the hotly-contested area on top of the 16 Chinese fishing vessels that have deployed 56 utility boats as they proceed with their unabated fishing operations.
Two Fishery Law Enforcement Command (FLEC) ships were the latest addition in the area. The vessels are considered as the most advanced Chinese maritime ships.
On the other hand, China maintained that they have only 20 vessels fishing in the area.
Hong Lei, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, issued this statement without mentioning an earlier official declaration from Beijing that it is imposing a yearly fishing ban in Panatag Shoal.
They know that it’s not their territory, so they are not violating their own maritime laws when they continue to fish in our territory, a senior provincial official in Zambales said.
Philstar.com, 2012