Comments on: Live Lapu-Lapu for Export…

By: JUN BALONZO

JUN BALONZO — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 14:08:22 +0000

isa po ak nmi2li lapulapu s amin gus2 k lng malaman naghahanp ak n buyer slmt po.

By: marie

marie — Sat, 11 Aug 2007 17:11:04 +0000

am looking 4 a codfish not more than 20inch and 80-90% oven dryâ€¦pls email me…deepskin2005@yahoo.com

By: Vinz

Vinz — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 08:59:57 +0000

I am looking for a brown lapu-lapu fish buyer.I have at least 250 live fish with weighing scale of 800grms to 1 kg..

Those interested for bidding please email me: makapalek@yahoo.com

By: Bubut

Bubut — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 03:23:11 +0000

those live fish once ordered in the restaurant are thrown directly at the boiling pot for the soup as the Chinese believes that if they had the soup of live lapu-lapu, that will give them more energy and good health. That’s why they prefer the live fish even if they are very expensive.

By: Marketman

Marketman — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 14:38:36 +0000

Jade186, yes, I understand where you are coming from, and I totally agree that something has to be done. If it were up to me, you know how I would probably use the cyanide… or the dynamite for that matter… From what I understand, the indigenous people and other stakeholders of the Coron area have recently been discussing the interrelated impact of cyanide on the fish, reefs and poor catches… and the islanders on Higantes/Coron island are aware that the cyanide may affect the swiftlets as well, so maybe there is a slight glimmer of hope… as with you, I wish more could be done.

By: Jade186

Jade186 — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 14:00:37 +0000

I didn’t express myself well – I was referring to the trade where the fishing techniques used are harmful, dangerous and damaging. Although there exists some legislation regarding the prohibition of such methods, they are not enforced at all, what seems to be even worst is the apparent apathy of those who see that this is occurring right in front of their noses and does not make any steps no matter how small to prevent or stop it. Talking or discussing about it seems fair enough, but still very little is done.

On a micro-scale one can propose educating the fishermen on the long term effects of such methods, and the alternatives, such as acquaculture, eco-tourism, or even diversifying industries.
But of course I might as well talk to my cat. Please excuse me.

By: Marketman

Marketman — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 12:48:02 +0000

Jade186, actually, I think banning it would be foolish. We all eat fish in the Philippines, so it isn’t the fact that we take fish from the sea that is reprehensible, but the manner in which the fish is caught. I think the residents and fishermen of Palawan deserve to reap some of the economic benefits of their toiling in their waters, it is the use of cyanide in some cases that is objectionable. Also, these fish bring far more to the fishermen than a black lapu-lapu, so export of it to folks who value it so highly is not bad on its own. A lot of the local fish available in the markets fresh, or canned in groceries, or otherwise prepared could also have been caught by ships run in the muro-ami fashion, or by the use of dynamite, or using dragnets that kill other creatures so the issue that needs to be addressed is a more ethical manner of fishing, not the outright banning or trade in fish…

By: Jade186

Jade186 — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 11:58:20 +0000

We are discussing it here but has any steps being made to stop this sort of trade? Alas, all talk and no action.

By: Maria Clara

Maria Clara — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 16:56:31 +0000

Graft and corruption of our politicians and military personnel play a major role in illegal fishing. Horrible ripple effect of illegal fishing leads to demise of our migratory birds and all lives in the sea. I hope the fish with most concentration of cyanide will end up at the politiciansâ€™ plate. In Chinese culture they always equate fish with good luck and prosperity hence they serve at their Lauriat dinners and banquets. Hong Kong and China have deep pockets and their buying power is humongous.

By: Marketman

Marketman — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 10:41:20 +0000

Adam, I truly appreciate your obviously insightful comments. I agree that the balance between enjoying the region’s natural beauty and destroying it by us tourists arriving in droves is definitely the key issue at hand. I personally would pay 4x the price for everything I ate and experienced in and around Coron if only they were all collected in a manner respectful to the sustainability of the food source, the use of beaches, etc. But that is me and unfortunately, I am less hopeful of the overall direction of “progress”… I wish the region well and I SHALL DEFINITELY RETURN. Market!Market! is a mall in Fort Bonifacio in Taguig, near Makati. Thanks.