Saying Scarborough Shoal has already suffered
ecological damage, Philippine President Benigno Aquino III on Monday welcomed
China’s declaration of a fishing ban in the disputed waters.
That
does not mean, however, that the Philippines recognises the Chinese ban on
fishing in the South China Sea, which Manila calls West Philippine Sea.
The
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it supported the President’s decision
to ban fishing at Scarborough Shoal, which the Philippines calls Panatag Shoal,
as overfishing had damaged the environment in those waters.
But
Foreign secretary Albert del Rosario said that the country does not recognise
Chinese prohibition “as portions of the ban encompass our exclusive economic
zone.”
"However,
the president has decided that, in view of the accelerated depletion of our
marine resources, it would be advisable for us to issue our own fishing ban for
a period of time to replenish our fish stock,” Del Rosario said in a statement
released Monday.
Talking
with reporters after a speech on rural development programme in Mindanao,
Aquino answered in the affirmative when asked if Filipino fishers would be
asked to skip fishing at Scarborough Shoal.
"Yes,"
Aquino said. “And the [Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)] is
supposed to be using some device that will improve fishing conditions elsewhere
for our fishermen, especially those from Masinloc in the Zambales area and some
from the Pangasinan area.”
Annual ban
China
is enforcing the fishing ban in the South China Sea beginning Wednesday to
conserve resources and curb overfishing. The prohibition runs up to August 1.
The
official Xinhua News Agency cited a South China Fisheries Administration Bureau
official on Sunday as saying the ban includes waters around Huangyan Island,
China’s name for Scarborough Shoal, where Philippine and Chinese vessels have
been standing off over sovereignty since April 10.
The
fishing prohibition also covers foreign fishers, including those from countries
with rival territorial claims in the Spratly Islands, an archipelago in the
South China Sea believed to have vast mineral and gas deposits and straddled by
sea lanes vital to global trade.
The
ban, however, does not cover all of the Spratlys but only areas north of 12
degrees north latitude, including Scarborough Shoal.
Xinhua
said the ban had been imposed annually since 1999. Since 2009, it has been
imposed starting on May 16 and ending on August 1.
Ecological damage
Aquino
said that unlike Filipino fishermen, who use motorised outriggers, China
fishers use huge trawlers at Scarborough Shoal.
"Now,
vessels and personnel of our Coast Guard and the [BFAR] continue to monitor the
[harvesting by Chinese fishers] of giant clams. And if they will impose the ban
on their countrymen who are doing the harvesting, why wouldn’t we welcome that
ban?” Aquino said.
"Panatag
Shoal would be able to recover,” he said. “So thank you if they will impose the
ban on their people because, as a matter of fact, only a few of our fishermen
go there,” he said.
The
president said the Coast Guard and the BFAR had reported ecological damage to
Scarborough Shoal, “something about the discoloration of the water.”
"I’m
not a marine aquaculturist so I’m not that conversant with the details,” the
president said. “But there seems to have been damage already inflicted so when
there’s damage, we want to help the ecosystem recover, and a ban would help in
the recovery process.”
Positive developments
The
president indicated that there were positive developments in the negotiations
with China to end the Scarborough standoff.
"The
negotiations didn’t stop…It’s still too early to say that the situation has
become better but, at least, we’re a bit close to the improvement of the
situation and resolving this using diplomatic means,” Aquino said.
The
Philippine Coast Guard said it was ready to enforce a fishing ban, but had yet
to receive orders from the authorities.
Until
orders come down, fishing at the shoal continues, Lt. Cmdr. Rommel Supangan,
acting Coast Guard spokesperson, said.
"So
far, the standing order is to maintain our ship’s presence and to show our
flag,” Supangan said.
As of 9
a.m. on Monday, Supangan said, there were four Filipino fishing boats and a
BFAR vessel, the MCS-3008, in the Scarborough lagoon. The Coast Guard’s BRP
Pampanga, a search-and-rescue vessel, was in the area but not in the lagoon,
Supangan said.
On the
Chinese side, there were 11 fishing boats, two maritime surveillance vessels,
and another craft from China’s Fleet Law Enforcement Command, Supangan said.
The
Chinese do not stop Filipino fishermen from going into the lagoon, Supangan
said.
Other islands, too?
Both
the Coast Guard and the DFA were awaiting details of the Chinese fishing ban.
The details of the ban, which should be shown on a map, would show the extent
of China’s territorial claim in the South China Sea.
Officials
also wanted to see if the Chinese ban also covered small islands within the
Philippine exclusive economic zone in Luzon.
Those
are Stewart Bank and Truro Shoal, located west of Ilocos Sur and Pangasinan,
respectively, where Filipino fishermen also go.
China
calls Stewart Bank, Truro Shoal and Scarborough Shoal Zhongsha Islands.
Jerome
Aning and Norman Bordadora
Philippine
Daily Inquirer
With
reports from Dona Z. Pazzibugan and AP
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