• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod has asked concerned national government agencies June 17 to immediately address the adverse effects of the United States import ban on blue swimming crabs.
The SP said the blue swimming crab industry is one of the substantial fisheries-based industries in Negros Occidental, with Bacolod as center for processing, picking, packing, storage, administration, and export operations.
Several crab processing and export companies also have offices, facilities, and business operations in the highly-urbanized city.
“The prolonged disruption in export activities would not only affect fisherfolk and coastal communities, but also workers employed in crab processing and export facilities located in Bacolod, thereby adversely impacting many Bacolodnon families, who depend upon the industry for their livelihood,” the SP said in approving the resolution of Councilor Caesar Distrito during their regular session.
He appealed to the Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, as well as departments of Environment and Natural Resources, Trade and Industry, Foreign Affairs, and other concerned government agencies to undertake immediate measures to address the adverse effects of the import ban to protect the livelihood of fisherfolk, crab gatherers, processing plant workers, exporters, and their families.
The import restrictions starting June 11 was due to the Philippines’ failure to demonstrate compliance with marine mammal conservation and fisheries monitoring requirements.
“There is an urgent need for coordinated action among concerned government agencies, industry stakeholders, exporters, and local government units to address the issues that led to the import restrictions, strengthen compliance with international standards, diversify export markets, and provide assistance to affected workers and enterprises,” Distrito stressed.
He added that the ban poses a serious threat to the sustainability of the industry and may result in reduced demand, declining farmgate and buying prices, business losses, reduction of operations, and possible displacement of workers.
E.B. Magalona former mayor Alfonso Gamboa, president of Saravia Blue Crab Inc., a major blue crab processing company, had said the import ban could result in massive economic losses, estimated at P6 billion annually.
He added that about 10,000 fishermen and 4,000 crab meat pickers in Negros, Panay, Bicol, Samar, Leyte, and parts of Mindanao could also be affected by the ban.
Distrito said that, per reports, around 90 percent of Philippine crab meat exports are destined for the United States market. “(This makes) the industry highly dependent upon continued access to said destination. A decline in export demand may lead to oversupply in the domestic market, causing a significant decrease in the market value of blue swimming crabs, and further reducing the earnings of fisherfolk and industry stakeholders.” | CGC
