It's been a long time since the Masinloc fishermen in Zambales, along with other fishermen in the neighboring provinces in the Philippines, freely cast their nets in the rich waters of Scarborough Shoals where abundant varieties of fishes in different sizes thrive. Those good days catch ended when Chinese coast guards began to forbid the poor Filipino fishermen from entering their 'territorial waters'. However, news afloat that China will give access to Filipino fishermen but on what conditions?
It was reported that China is taking into consideration an extensive agreement that will permit Philippine fishing vessels to enter the controversial waters of Scarborough Shoal situated in the South China Sea. This was revealed on Friday by a prominent Chinese government adviser as the relationship of the two debating countries show some improvement after President Duterte's visit to China last month, according to GMA News Online.
"A wholesale bilateral fishing industry deal is still being discussed, an agreement has not yet been reached," as stated by the head of government-run National Institute for South China Sea Studies, Wu Shicun.
The argument between Philippines and China regarding Scarborough Shoal as part of their territorial waters subsided after Duterte's visit to the communist country. The Philippine president made an announcement last week of keeping out fishermen who will exploit marine life at the undisturbed lagoon which is the core of bickering between the two Asian countries.
The New York Times reported that the South China consists of the world's most valuable fisheries along with 571 known genus of reef corals which is considerably more abundant compared to other reefs worldwide. However, the sea is enduring an overfishing crisis and with all those artificial islands made by Chinese wreak havoc to the fishes' spawning grounds.
Even if the Chinese Coast Guard marine vessels gave Philippine fishermen the permission to fish in the shoal during the past weeks being a part of the two countries' reconciliation, the shoal still remains a possible aim of the island-building drive. Scarborough Shoal is known in the Philippines as Panatag Shoal which means tranquil or quiet and is known as Huangyan Island in China.
As of writing, the Chinese government did not provide any exact details as to why Filipino fishermen were now allowed to catch in the disputed waters of Scarborough Shoal.
