The Fishermans Story part two

When one sees a dynamite fishing explosion for the first time it's difficult to have any simpathy for these fishermen.
But  after a couple of days on Dalupiri Island one sees an incredible number of fishermen who've lost hands and limbs or have gone deaf or blind.
In almost every village on the Island you can find a house with a bedridden or crippled fisherman, paralized from the bends or suffering in some way from a mishap whilst fishing. Some are only children whose families don't have enough money to send them to school so they have no choice but to learn dynamite fishing and sometimes the hard way!

The price in human lives and limbs that these men and children pay is extreme.
They are in a true "Catch22" situation which has no way out other than to continue to buy dynamite and hope that they will be lucky.  Many are not.

I'm sure that Cummins and Gremio are correct in their assumtion that these fishermen would gladly give up the dynamite fishing business if other work could be found. Unfortunately there is no other work at this time.

The Article in the ENQUIRER mentioned Mr Jim Hancock a British fisheries expert who it says has been in Samar and Leyte for a decade. Mr Hancock is unknown on Dalupiri Island and must have very little idea as to the reality of the situation there. Of course he is correct when he says that it's sad that the dolphins are being killed by dynamite but it's also sad that such a situation exists in such a vital marine migration area affecting thousands of square miles of the Visayan and Pacific seas. But above all it's sad that this situation could easily be rectified by relatively small investments on the Island together with a strong re-educational program for the fishermen.
Mr Hancock and others like him seem to have failed in understanding that the waters hundreds of miles away  where they are presently working flows first through the San Bernadino Strait and passes Dalupiri Island, as do almost all the migrating Marine life.

The attitude of the likes of Mr Hancock and Miss Morante and indeed the Governor of N.Samar, Mrs Ong, is to hide the problem from view and pretend it is just not there and it will go away. Such an attitude only makes the situation worse and gives fuel to the dynamite business, it's like an added protection other than that of the Politicians who are more directly involved, perhaps there may even be a connection I don't know.
But as we enter the 21st Century, to witness such an easily cured sickness as the Rape of the San Bernadino strait, the killing of migrating marine life, the maiming of fisherfolk and their children, the obvious Political corruption and destruction of the environment and then simply comment that it is "Sad" in my opinion is also a crime.

Of course "Ignorance" is no excuse in the eyes of the law, but in the case of the fishermen it's the Teachers who are more to blame than those who throw the dynamite.
Who would allow their children as young as 11 or 12 years old dive down in deep waters clinging on to a small plastic compressed air tube to signal the presence of a big fish, then make it to the surface as fast as possible before the dynamite explodes and not even know a thing about the "Bends"?

Only desperate and hungry people would do so. Only Ignorant people would do so.
The Teachers and Politicians wouldn't do so, nor would the Dynamite suppliers.

So please help, please help by putting pressure where it will do the most.
Pressure on the area's Congressman Abayon, on the Island's Mayor Mr Bagioso, on the Philippine Authorities, and even the President himself.

Lets not put all the blame, as has been the case until now, on the Fishermen who have no voice and no chance, and to whom I give the last word...

Mr Manong, d'you ever worry that you or your crew may one day never come back home....
Manong; Please Mr Romy, have some more Tuba, its fresh and strong, my Father made it...

Home page