• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Negros Occidental provincial government is seeking the assistance of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to help restore access for Philippine blue swimming crab products to the United States market after the import ban that took effect on June 11.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Friday, June 12 that they will coordinate with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to develop protocols aimed at strengthening the country’s compliance with international standards and regain access to the lucrative US market.
“We will ask BFAR to come up with protocols that we feel will help the blue swimming crab industry improve its position within the US market,” he added. “When we are ready, together with BFAR, we will call all stakeholders to determine whether the protocols we introduce will indeed help the industry.”
The US import ban is expected to result in annual economic losses estimated at P6 billion to P7 billion, affecting around 10,000 fishermen and an additional 4,000 to 5,000 crab meat pickers in Negros, Panay, Bicol, Samar, Leyte, and parts of Mindanao.
Lacson described the situation as unfortunate, noting that the incident cited by US authorities did not occur in Negros Occidental.
“What is unfortunate is that the incident being cited did not even happen here. It happened, I think, in Malampaya. It represented the Philippines, and since it is part of the Philippines, we were affected,” he said.
While seeking the intervention of the President, Lacson emphasized that the Department of Agriculture (DA) and BFAR can already take immediate steps to address the issue.
“I think what we should do is come up with policies that will strengthen our position and help us regain the US market,” he said.
Lacson stressed the need for local government units (LGUs) to understand the reasons behind the ban and determine whether fishing and harvesting practices need to be adjusted to comply with international requirements.
“First, we have to understand the reason. Second, if there are issues in the practice of catching or harvesting blue crabs and we are at fault, then we have to adjust,” he said. “LGUs will be very concerned because this affects the economy of their areas.”
While efforts are underway to restore access to the US market, Lacson said stakeholders should also explore alternative export destinations and strengthen local demand.
“In the meantime, we will have to look for other markets, including local markets,” he added.
On June 9, the Negros Occidental Sangguniang Panlalawigan passed a resolution authored by Third District Board Member Hope Marey Depasucat urging the DA, through the BFAR, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and other concerned agencies to immediately address compliance issues that led to the closure of the US market.
The move followed a decision by the US National Marine Fisheries Service, acting under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, to prohibit the importation of Philippine blue swimming crab products harvested from affected fisheries.
The ban was imposed after the Philippines failed to demonstrate compliance with marine mammal conservation and fisheries monitoring requirements.
Depasucat emphasized that the blue swimming crab industry remains one of the country’s major fisheries export sectors, providing livelihood to thousands of fishers, crab pickers, processing plant workers, traders, transport providers, and other stakeholders across the supply chain.
She noted that the Western Visayas seas account for approximately 51 percent of the country’s blue swimming crab production, making the region, including Negros Occidental, a vital center of production and economic activity for the industry. | GB
