A fisherfolk group called on the public to boycott imported galunggong or round scad and instead patronize locally sourced aquatic and marine products from small fishers, following the Department of Agriculture’s approval to import this “poor man’s fish.”
“We are calling for the Filipino people nationwide to boycott the imported galunggong from China, and declare the product as a ‘fish-ona non grata’ in all public markets,” Fernando Hicap, chairperson of the Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas, said.
“Fish-ona non grata,” the group explained, translates to “unwelcome fish,” as derived from the legal diplomatic term “persona non grata” which means “unwelcome person.”
The group’s call came at least a week after Agriculture Secretary William Dar allowed the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources to proceed with the importation of 45,000 metric tons of small pelagic fish, including galunggong.
The DA had earlier explained that the importation will aid in stabilizing high market prices, as prices of commodity in Metro Manila increased to almost P300 per kilo due to low supply.
Pamalakaya-Palawan member Ruel Araneta said that while the retail price of galunggong in the province is at P130 per kilo, farm gate price of the species is at P45 to P60 per kilogram.
Fisherfolk in Palawan fear that importation could further downgrade the farm gate prices, Araneta said.
The fisherman also lamented the three-month fishing ban for galunggong in Palawan, saying that despite the ban, commercial fishing vessels continue to encroach and conduct large-scale fishing expedition within the municipal waters and areas that are declared off season. (Alexandria San Juan)