PCIJ WebAlert #23.2008

[rast...@gmail.com]

W H A T ' S N E W @ www.pcij.org
4.June.2008


---------------[ PCIJ Investigation )------

DECLARED PROTECTED AREA IN DISTRESS
Illegal Fish Cage Operations Poison Taal Lake
by Marlon Alexander S. Luistro

TAAL Lake remains a favorite destination of tourists, local and
foreign — but maybe not for long. Thousands of fish cages now litter
the lake, marring the view. It is estimated that Taal Lake is host to
over 9,000 fish cages, which can sometimes make the water seem scarce.

Some 1,500 people directly get their income from these fish cages.
These fish farms, in turn, provide food for those living in Calabarzon
(Cavite-Laguna-Batangas-Rizal-Quezon), and Metro Manila.

But experts warn that aside from being an eyesore, the unregulated
fish cage operations at the world-famous lake are killing it.
Overstocking and overfeeding have caused harmful algae to bloom,
causing fish kills.

Ironically, Taal Lake is a declared protected area since 1996. This
declaration notwithstanding, fish cages continue to mushroom in the
lake.

This three-part investigative report also looks at how the government
and fish cage operators can save the lake from dying, without
sacrificing the livelihood of those who earn from fish cages.

Read on at http://pcij.org.
Post your comments at http://pcij.org/blog/?p=2355