Bacoor Bay reclamation project blamed for dwindling mussel harvests, local fishers lament

CAVITE, Philippines – A large-scale reclamation project in Bacoor Bay, Cavite, Philippines, is threatening the livelihoods of local fisherfolk. Residents who have been farming mussels (tahong) and oysters (talaba) for decades are witnessing a drastic decline in their harvests, leading to widespread concern. Bacoor City is a major producer of mussels in the province, with an average annual harvest of over 6,000 metric tons. In 2021, its 6,669 metric tons represented the province’s entire catch. However, recent years have seen a significant drop. Nenita Reyes, 62, who has been in the shellfish farming business since the 1960s, selling her harvests at a local market, lamented, "That’s what people in this village do for a living — shellfish diggers. Before they dumped soil [into the sea], we had a rich harvest, including fish, crabs, squid. Now, we yield nothing there; we have to go farther into the sea." Ryan Modesto, 40, another mussel farmer, stated, "In previous years, we could harvest 30 to 50 sacks of mussels; now, it's down to 20. We harvest less because the area for mussel farming has shrunk." The reclamation project, a P41.7-billion initiative agreed upon by the Bacoor City government and the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) in 2016, aims to create new livelihood opportunities through development. Then-mayor Lani Mercado-Revilla had stated, "Reclamation is the answer to our need for additional land for the continued progress of our city." However, it involves reclaiming parts of the 385-hectare coastal expanse, directly impacting over 400 mussel and oyster farms within that area. The 320-hectare reclamation plan is projected to destroy 150 hectares of mussel farms, potentially displacing at least 1,000 families, according to Bacoor City Agriculture Officer-in-charge Allan Guevarra Chua. The fisherfolk group Pamalakaya (Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas) has been opposing the project since 2020, citing damage to mangroves and fishing areas. Under the Revised Forestry Code, mangrove trees are considered public forest areas, and the law mandates conservation of areas at least 20 meters from the community shoreline. Following protests, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. temporarily halted the project in 2023. However, the PRA announced in June that reclamation activities are set to resume in the latter half of 2026. While the government promises to designate 154 hectares as an aquaculture zone for residents, they will need significant capital to establish new farms. The fisherfolk are calling for more sustainable forms of support. Reyes added, "They are rich, what would they know about us vendors? A lot of mussel diggers and fishermen have been affected because they reclaimed land from the sea." The project is backed by the influential Revilla family, who hold significant political power in Bacoor City, with Lani Mercado-Revilla now serving as congresswoman and her brother-in-law, Strike, as mayor. The situation highlights the ongoing challenges in the Philippines concerning the balance between economic development through reclamation projects and the preservation of coastal ecosystems and the livelihoods of traditional fishing communities. Information Source: Rappler Philippines