Post by admin on Aug 15, 2013 10:55:18 GMT 8
Group backs opening of Napindam to kill janitor fish
Philstar.com
June 20, 2013
Fisherfolk group Pamalakaya on Thursday proposed the opening of Napindan Dam to eliminate the presence of predator fish, such as knife fish, in Laguna Lake.
Pamalakaya vice chairperson Salvador France also belittled the plan of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and the Laguna Lake Development Authority and other government agencies to contain the spread of knife fish now pestering other inland species in the 90,000- hectare Laguna de Bay.
"The solution to get rid of these invasive species in Laguna Lake is to open the Napindan Dam to allow the salt waters of Manila Bay to penetrate Laguna Lake. The free flow and entry of Manila Bay saltwater to Laguna Lake will remove the basis of existence for thriving predator species in the lake like knife fish, janitor fish and snake turtle fish," France said.
He added that the government has plans to offer to big contractors the Laguna de Bay for water conversion project.
"The officials in Malacañang, LLDA and BFAR are concealing this very basic truth that Laguna Lake needs the water of Manila Bay to survive," France said.
The dam constructed at the mouth of Pasig River has stopped the entry of saltwater from Manila Bay and destroyed the lake ecosystem since November 1982, he said.
France added that the government declaration of war against knife fish appeared like a publicity stunt.
Eariler, BFAR director Asis Perez said knife fish “invaders in Laguna Lake have devoured at least 70 tons of indigenous fish worth around P10.5 million daily."
He noted that some 10 tons of the fish, known to scientists as “Chitala ornata,” were being removed from the lake every day.
Last week, BFAR and LLDA signed a memorandum of agreement with nine executive departments and agencies to coordinate efforts in addressing the problem.
The BFAR through its Calabarzon regional office, signed a MOA with 12 Laguna towns for the massive collection and retrieval of knife fish.
Under this earlier initiative, a fisherman was paid P20 for every kilo of knife fish captured, providing those who are affected with an alternative livelihood while the bureau looked for ways to use the fish or its parts as value-added products for food, feeds or handicraft items.
“Laguna Lake was once a home and first-rate breeding ground to 23 lake fish species, but only six survive due to ineffective flood control structure and destructive government-sponsored and foreign-funded development projects around the lake like the Napindan Dam," Pamalakaya said. - Dennis Carcamo
Source: www.philstar.com/nation/2013/06/20/956202/group-backs-opening-napindam-kill-janitor-fish
Philstar.com
June 20, 2013
Fisherfolk group Pamalakaya on Thursday proposed the opening of Napindan Dam to eliminate the presence of predator fish, such as knife fish, in Laguna Lake.
Pamalakaya vice chairperson Salvador France also belittled the plan of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and the Laguna Lake Development Authority and other government agencies to contain the spread of knife fish now pestering other inland species in the 90,000- hectare Laguna de Bay.
"The solution to get rid of these invasive species in Laguna Lake is to open the Napindan Dam to allow the salt waters of Manila Bay to penetrate Laguna Lake. The free flow and entry of Manila Bay saltwater to Laguna Lake will remove the basis of existence for thriving predator species in the lake like knife fish, janitor fish and snake turtle fish," France said.
He added that the government has plans to offer to big contractors the Laguna de Bay for water conversion project.
"The officials in Malacañang, LLDA and BFAR are concealing this very basic truth that Laguna Lake needs the water of Manila Bay to survive," France said.
The dam constructed at the mouth of Pasig River has stopped the entry of saltwater from Manila Bay and destroyed the lake ecosystem since November 1982, he said.
France added that the government declaration of war against knife fish appeared like a publicity stunt.
Eariler, BFAR director Asis Perez said knife fish “invaders in Laguna Lake have devoured at least 70 tons of indigenous fish worth around P10.5 million daily."
He noted that some 10 tons of the fish, known to scientists as “Chitala ornata,” were being removed from the lake every day.
Last week, BFAR and LLDA signed a memorandum of agreement with nine executive departments and agencies to coordinate efforts in addressing the problem.
The BFAR through its Calabarzon regional office, signed a MOA with 12 Laguna towns for the massive collection and retrieval of knife fish.
Under this earlier initiative, a fisherman was paid P20 for every kilo of knife fish captured, providing those who are affected with an alternative livelihood while the bureau looked for ways to use the fish or its parts as value-added products for food, feeds or handicraft items.
“Laguna Lake was once a home and first-rate breeding ground to 23 lake fish species, but only six survive due to ineffective flood control structure and destructive government-sponsored and foreign-funded development projects around the lake like the Napindan Dam," Pamalakaya said. - Dennis Carcamo
Source: www.philstar.com/nation/2013/06/20/956202/group-backs-opening-napindam-kill-janitor-fish