Pasuquin fisherfolks suffer heavy damage from Mangkhut

By Leilanie G. Adriano

Staff reporter

Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte—The clear blue sky on an early morning invites fisherfolks of Brgy. Davila here to venture out of the sea.

Though their fishing boats were spared from typhoon Mangkhut’s [Ompong] destructive winds, it nevertheless washed away their “payaws”. “Payaw” is as an artificial fish sanctuary or fish-aggregating device to attract school of fish.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources is distributing these fish aggregating devices to fishermen associations nationwide to increase their catch.

Before the onslaught of Mangkhut, Pasuquin fishers were among the hundreds of recipients of livelihood fishing materials from BFAR.

But all these were gone now as their payaws were washed out by the strong winds of Mangkhut, the strongest typhoon so far that hit the Philippines this year.

Each payaw has a price of PHP100, 000.

While trying to figure how to start all over again, Domingo La Torre said he is more than worried on the presence of foreign fishing vessels that threaten their livelihood.

These foreign fishing vessels are a common sight along the coastal waters of Pasuquin stretching all the way to Pagudpud, according to the Pasuquin Tuna Fishermen Association, which Mr. La Torre serves as president. The group narrated that for days, big Vietnamese fishing vessels are anchored near the payaw areas approximately 600 kilometers or 400 miles off Ilocos Norte.

“Maraming nawala na payaw paano na ngayon kaming mga fisherfolk. Tapos nandiyan pa ang mga foreign fishing vessels. Sana ay kumilos na ang mga kinauukulan para mapaalis ang mga foreign vessels na yan sa karagatan natin,” said Mr. La Torre as he expressed his sentiment over social media.

Mr. La Torre explained they merely use hand line when fishing compared to the modern fishing method of these poachers which threatens their livelihood.

“Pati yung mga pusit, galunggong at mga tuna ay halos wala na kaming nahuhuli dahil ‘super light’ at malalaking lambat ang gamit nila,” revealed Mr. La Torre.

Republic Act No. 8550 or the Fisheries Code of 1998 prohibits the use of super light, a device to attract fish in the country.

Local fishermen said they used to catch up to 20 pieces of tuna daily but had since been coming home with only a single fish or two.