DENR issues notice of demolition of illegal fish cages in Cavite waters
CAVITE CITY, Cavite – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Philippine Coast Guard – Cavite on Monday issued a final warning on owners of illegal fish traps (sapras) and fish cages in Cavite waters.
The DENR, PCG and the PNP Maritime group jointly sailed to the “saprahan” to post a notice of demolition to be implemented on November 4, 5, and 6.
The Manila Bay Inter-Agency Task Force will conduct clearing operations of the illegal structures in the city waters.
“We encourage the owners of such structures to carry out self-clearing or voluntary removal of their respective structures before November 4 or the scheduled clearing operation,”DENR Undersecretary Benny Antiporda said.
“Sayang kasi ‘yung kawayan, ilaw and generator sets, mapapakinabangan pa nila ‘yan. Kapag kami na nagtanggal o nagbaklas n’yan mga trash traps, wala na sila mapapakinabangan dyan, kasi we use that as evidence,” Antiporda added.
“Regarding sa baklad and tahungan, they need to secure permit in their respective local government units in Bacoor, Noveleta, Kawit and Cavite City to be legal,” he said.
The demolition is in accordance with the order of the Supreme Court (G.R.No.171947-48), which mandates government agencies to clean up, conduct rehabilitation, preserve and restore, and maintain water quality in Manila Bay in Class SB or the recreational/fishery water class.
Class SB water can only be used as a bath/swimming pool, skin-diving and other similar activities, and as a place for commercial breeding and rearing of shellfish and spawning fish, and tourism as stated in the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Administrative Order 2016-08.
The directive is also in accordance with Section 87 of the Department of Agriculture Order 10, Series of 2015 also known as “The Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 8550 as Amended by RA 10654,” which states that it is against the law for anyone to build and operate fish corrals, fish traps, fish pens, fish cages and fish ponds without permission or license.
Anyone caught engaging in such activity without a license or permit will be considered illegal and may be subject to corresponding fines and penalties.
