Dismantling of illegal fishing structure in Cavite started
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has started the dismantling of illegal aquaculture structures in Cavite as part of government's efforts for the Manila Bay rehabilitation amid opposition from fisherfolk.
DENR was joined by the Philippine Coast Guard and the local government of Cavite City in removing "sapra" or abandoned fish traps made of bamboo with "superlight" to attract fish.
Tall bamboo structures were demolished starting Thursday, Nov. 4, while fishing paraphernalia, including improvised superlight and wide fishing nets with smaller holes, were recovered during the operation.
“Just like what we’ve said a long time ago, our first objective is to see is to believe. No more floating debris here in Manila Bay, that is our target,” DENR Usec. Benny Antiporda said in a statement Saturday, adding that debris from the fishing structures in Cavite City are washed ashore the Manila Baywalk area along Roxas Boulevard.

“These (sapras) majorly contribute to the floating debris washed towards the baywalk area,” he said, “Come typhoons, they (operators) are just waiting for it to be destroyed and when destroyed they do not fix it, instead they bring in and install new set of bamboos.”
The DENR official also alleged that some sapra operators, who are big business owners, immediately abandoned the structures before their operation as they were "aware that they have violated laws and cases shall be filed against them when caught."
Meanwhile, the DENR official stressed that inter-agency coordination is being undertaken to address the concerns of smaller fishing communities in Cavite City that have been affected by the illegal fishing operations.
Various groups and fisherfolk living in the coastal communities of Cavite recently held protest actions to oppose the agency’s dismantling activity.
They said the project would only displace at least 15,000 residents whose livelihood depends on mussel and oyster farming in the area and doubted the agency’s intention by saying the order is only a "prelude to massive reclamation projects that are meant to wipe out not only the fishing structures but also the fishing villages along Manila Bay."