Industrialization, tourism threaten Davao Gulf -- BFAR
19 October 2007DAVAO CITY - Industrialization and tourism are emerging threats to the fishing industry in the Davao Gulf area, an official of Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources said.
George Campeon, BFAR regional director, told MindaNews in an interview Wednesday pollutants from factories and the opening of more beach resorts pose growing threats to the gulf area.
He said the two problems are not new but will become major concerns if left unchecked. He said pollutants will poison the gulf and will affect the habitat of the fishes.
Campeon said the Environmental Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the local government units should closely monitor the area to ensure there are no violators of waste disposal laws.
But he said there are still those who could get away and evade penalty.
The opening of more beach resorts brought by the growth in tourism is also expected to affect the livelihood of small fisher folks.
He said new beaches drive fishermen from their natural docks and will push them off affecting livelihood in the process. He said it would mean economic dislocation and could force fishers to resort to illegal fishing.
Source: Minda News
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