Fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA) is opposing the Philippines Department of Agriculture (DA)’s approval of the importation of 60,000 metric tons (MT) of small pelagic fish, saying such a move will hurt local fishers.
In a statement, the group said more fish imports would pull down the farmgate prices of fish, forcing small fishers into deep crisis and bankruptcy.
“Flooding our local markets with imported fish will pose more harm than good to our struggling fishing industry,”PAMALAKAYA National chairperson Fernando Hicap said.
“This liberalization scheme never addresses the country’s crisis in fisheries production. Rather, it is burden to local fisherfolks whose fishery products are affected by imported fish,” he said.
Agriculture Secretary William Dar announced earlier this week the issuance of 60,000 MT of certificates of necessity (CNI) to import small pelagic fish in the first quarter.
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https://www.philstar.com/business/2022/01/20/2154999/fishers-buck-fish-imports