THE National Security Council (NSC) has urged fishermen from Palawan to continue fishing in the contested West Philippine Sea (WPS) in the South China Sea amid continuing Chinese aggression in the area.
In a statement yesterday, the NSC said the remarks were made by NSC Assistant Director General and spokesman Jonathan Malaya during a fishermen’s congress in Coron, Palawan on November 28.
Malaya said the country’s legal rights over the West Philippine Sea have been “clearly established” by the newly-enacted Philippine Maritime Zones Act, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and the 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration that dismissed China’s excessive claims in the South China Sea.
“So I urge you to go and continue fishing in the WPS and we are here to support you,” Malaya said during the congress which was attended by 170 fishermen from northern Palawan.
Malaya also noted that the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has not imposed any fishing moratorium in the West Philippine Sea.
“There is no government-imposed moratorium on fishing anywhere in the West Philippine Sea. There are BFAR-imposed closed fishing seasons in our archipelagic waters to allow the fish to recover but none in the West Philippine Sea,” he said.
Malaya also said China has no legal authority to impose a fishing ban or any regulation against Filipino fishermen in the West Philippine Sea.
“Only the Philippine government can impose that. And I’m here to tell you that you are free to fish anywhere in the WPS,” Malaya.
In May, China announced a four-month fishing ban in the South China Sea. The Department of Foreign Affairs protested China’s declaration, adding this raises tension in the area.
The last reported Chinese harassment against Filipino fishermen occurred in October near Sabina Shoal or Escoda Shoal, about 70 nautical miles from mainland Palawan.
The fishermen’s boat, FFB Hadassah, was tailed and subjected to dangerous maneuvers by the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessels. Two Chinese speed boats, deployed from one of the CCG vessels, repeatedly rammed the outrigger of the fishermen’s boat.
