The fishermen around Taal Lake are calling for the government to help them cope with income losses as demand for fish continues to dwindle amid the ongoing search and retrieval operations for the “missing sabungeros.”
The Taal Lake Aquacultural Alliance Inc. (TLAAI) is urging the national government to speed up the search operations in the lake to avoid creating unnecessary fear among fish consumers.
In an exclusive interview with Manila Standard, TLAAI spokesperson Mario Balazon emphasized that mistaken belief still remains as pictures of the lake with fish cages were seen on social media.
According to Balazon, the impact on the sales of ‘tawilis’ has been significant. Tilapia and bangus (milkfish) are still selling, but at lower volumes than before. This drop happened alongside increased fishing in the open sea, which boosted supply.
“Our products are certified by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) such that it is safe to eat,” he said.
Balazon explained that the lake has a water area of 24,000 hectares, but only two percent or 400 hectares is used for aquaculture. The area subject of the search is less than 10 hectares, but all areas are seen just the same because of the issue.
While the price of tilapia and bangus is stable, the demand has decreased, according to Balazon.
He also underscored that their fishes are netted and eat commercial feeds, not human remains.
Among the lakeshore towns covered by the group include Talisay, Laurel, Agoncillo, San Nicolas, Cuenca, Sta. Teresita, Alitagtag, Mataas na Kahoy, Balete, Lipa City, and Tanauan City—where they teach good aquaculture practices to protect the livelihood of fishermen.
In a separate interview, fishermen in Cuenca town are appealing for immediate government assistance due to drop of sales in fish products.
“We have been affected as people are skeptical about the fish we catch like tawilis, bangus and tilapia… The current market is weak, our income has suddenly dropped, that is why we are calling on the government to support us in some way,” Arnel Umali told Manila Standard in Filipino.
He cited that previously, they can sell over 100 kilos of tawilis, but since the issue broke, they can hardly sell 20 kilos.
Meanwhile, fish catch in Laurel town also dwindled from 10 to only about two daily, according to Mayor Lyndon Bruce.
“They can’t go out to fish because there aren’t many orders being brought to the Manila market, since the fish caught here are already being delivered to the Malabon fish port and other fish ports across Metro Manila,” he said in an interview with ABS-CBN.
Last week, Batangas governor Vilma Santos-Recto also appealed not to link the lake to the case as the livelihood of fisherfolk is affected.
