By CESAR JOLITO III
The US import ban on blue swimming crab exports is projected to cause the Philippines annual economic losses of up to P6 billion, as the Negros Occidental provincial government now seeks the intervention of the national government to help restore access to the foreign market.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said they will work closely with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to develop protocols aimed at strengthening the country’s compliance with international fisheries and marine conservation standards and eventually regain access to the lucrative US market.
“We will ask BFAR to come up with protocols that we feel will help the blue swimming crab industry improve its position within the US market,” Lacson said, adding that government agencies and industry stakeholders will jointly assess whether the proposed measures can effectively address the concerns raised by US authorities.
The export ban is likely to affect approximately 10,000 fishermen nationwide, and another 4,000 to 5,000 crab meat pickers across Negros, Panay, Bicol, Samar, Leyte, and parts of Mindanao.
Lacson described the situation as particularly unfortunate for Negros Occidental, noting that the incident cited by US regulators did not occur in the province.
“The incident being cited did not even happen here. It happened, I think, in Malampaya. It represented the Philippines,” Lacson said.
“And since Malampaya is part of the Philippines, we were affected,” he added.
While calling for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s assistance, Lacson emphasized that immediate action can already be taken by the Department of Agriculture (DA) and BFAR through the formulation of stronger policies that will improve the country’s standing and facilitate the reopening of the US market.
He also underscored the role of local government units in understanding the reasons behind the ban and ensuring that fishing and harvesting practices comply with international requirements.
“If there are issues in the practice of catching or harvesting blue crabs, and we are at fault, then we have to adjust,” Lacson said, stressing that the issue directly affects the economies of coastal communities.
As efforts continue to restore access to the US market, the governor encouraged industry stakeholders to diversify their export destinations while expanding local demand for blue swimming crab products.
Meanwhile, the Negros Occidental Sangguniang Panlalawigan has taken steps to address the issue.
On June 9, the provincial board approved a resolution authored by 3rd District Board Member Hope Marey Depasucat urging the DA, through BFAR, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and other concerned agencies to immediately resolve the compliance issues that led to the closure of the US market.
The resolution came after the US National Marine Fisheries Service, acting under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, prohibited the importation of Philippine blue swimming crab products harvested from affected fisheries due to the country’s failure to demonstrate compliance with marine mammal conservation and fisheries monitoring requirements.
Depasucat emphasized that the blue swimming crab industry is one of the Philippines’ major fisheries export sectors, providing livelihoods for thousands of fishers, crab pickers, processing plant workers, traders, transport providers, and other stakeholders throughout the supply chain.
She also highlighted the importance of Western Visayas to the industry, noting that its waters account for approximately 51 percent of the country’s blue swimming crab production, making the region — including Negros Occidental — a key production hub whose economy could be significantly affected by the continued export restrictions./CCJ, WDJ