Tag Archives: Philippines
Filipino fisherman adrift at sea for 47 days, has been rescued
A 49-year-old Filipino fisherman who spent 47 days drifting aimlessly at sea has been rescued after surviving on rainwater, coconuts and fish, the Philippine Coast Guard said on Friday. Robin Dejillo, a native of Quezon province, southeast of Manila, has been reported missing since August 4 after his boat ran out of gas while conducting a fishing venture, Xinhua news agency reported. Dejillo survived for more than a month at sea by drinking rainwater and eating fish. He was also sustained by eating coconuts floating on water. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:32
Workers ‘treated like slaves’ on Scottish fishing boats
Thirty-five men from the Philippines, Ghana, India and Sri Lanka were recognised as victims of modern slavery by the Home Office after being referred to it between 2012 and 2020. The workers were employed by TN Trawlers and its sister companies, owned by the Nicholson family, based in the small town of Annan on the southern coast of Scotland. The TN Group denied any allegation of modern slavery or human trafficking and said its workers were well treated and well paid. The company was the focus of two long-running criminal investigations but no cases of human trafficking or modern slavery have come to trial, although some of the men waited years to give evidence. While TN Trawlers’ lead director, Thomas Nicholson, was under active investigation, TN Group companies continued recruiting new employees from across the world. Video, Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:37
Philippines’ tuna industry reels from rising fuel prices
Veteran longline fisherman Miguel Mayola eased his boat gingerly into the port of General Santos City after a month at sea with his crew in deep waters off Bongao, a finger-shaped island at the southwestern tip of the Philippines. The 39-year-old captain, his leathery face weather-beaten by years of toiling in an industry that has made many buyers rich from the tuna he fishes, was now waiting to see whether his prized catch could net him enough money. He needed the cash for his family and 13-man crew, and to fund another fishing expedition. “It’s hard work but we can’t do anything. It’s really hard with prices of crude and gasoline rising, and our families have nobody to rely on but us fishermen,” Mayola said. >click to read< 07:55
Enviro groups point to chemical pollution, not overfishing, as main cause of fishery decline
According to the report “Aquatic Pollutants in Oceans and Fisheries,” chemical pollution is the bigger culprit since it “compromises reproduction, development, and immune systems among aquatic and marine organisms”. The report said that “overfishing is not the sole cause of fishery declines,” and that pollutants including industrial chemicals, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, heavy metals, plastics and microplastics “have deleterious impacts to aquatic ecosystems at all trophic levels from plankton to whales.” >click to read< 12:01 – Waste Water Treatment Plants – Mussels off the coast of Seattle test positive for opioids – Once home to thriving (natural) aquaculture, Great Bay is under great strain – Scientists concerned over health of fish species as wastewater treatment plants fail to remove drugs, and more, >click here<
US: Chinese Island Building Threatens Shipping, Fishing
China’s aggressive island building in the South China Sea has drawn international attention to Beijing’s expansive maritime territorial claims. This week it also drew a caution from the head of the United States Pacific Fleet, Admiral Scott Swift. In a speech at a Cooperative Strategy Forum in Hawaii Monday, Admiral Swift did not name China as the country responsible for the situation. But he said the way claims have been enforced has intimidated fishermen who “trawled the seas freely for generations” and are now facing threats to their livelihoods. Read the article here 08:59
China Will Solve Maritime Disputes Through Direct Talks – remember the Geoduck ban ?
Increasing Tensions – Yang’s remarks about direct negotiations indicate China wants to , he said. In his speech, Yang did not mention the U.S.’s role in regional territorial disputes, yet China has opposed the country’s “pivot” to Asia, blaming it for increasing tensions in the South China Sea. Read more here 08:04
Global powers sign declaration on sustainable fishing
ATHENS) – Officials from some of the world’s top fishing powers signed a declaration in Greece on Friday to promote sustainable management of fish stocks. The signatories — the EU, United States, Japan, Philippines, Colombia and Indonesia — pledged to support measures to address fishing overcapacity. Read more here eubusiness.com 14:08
The Philippines has resumed White shrimp exports to US, China
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources director Asis Perez said shrimp growers in General Santos City, Negros, Cebu and Batangas started shipping dozens of containers of white shrimps to other countries. He said each 40-foot container carried 26 metric tons of white shrimps. more@manillastandardtoday 16:02
