Both child divers and coral reef abused

Both child divers and coral reef abused

By Adam Easton

PALAWAN, South-western Philippines: Hundreds of children in the Philippines are being forced to work under barbaric conditions doing a type of fishing which destroys coral reefs.

In a country where child labor is not uncommon, and fishing with dynamite and cyanide has already taken a heavy toll on the reefs, human rights groups and environmentalists are campaigning to end the destructive fishing known as pa-aling.

Children as young as 13 are recruited to be divers, although under law diving is considered a "hazardous" occupation and only for those aged 18 or over. For eight hours a day the divers are forced to dive down 50ft to the reefs, where they scare out the fish using lead- weighted hoses which belch out compressed air.

Many pa-aling operators fish off Palawan, the island known as the Philippines' "final frontier" because much of its environment remains untouched.

Although they had been hired on a 10-month contract, 29 divers including eight minors on a vessel called the F/B Unity hatched a plan to escape after six weeks because of ill-treatment. Junne Cadiente, aged 17, said: "Sometimes when we made mistakes our supervisors whipped us with a rope almost the size of a wrist. I was whipped because I misplaced the hose.

"I got sick while at sea. They made me work when I was ill, even though I didn't feel strong enough to work."

Most of the divers were recruited from farming areas which suffered droughts brought on by El Nio. With their crops devastated, the offer of a job and a 3,000 peso (US$75) advance seemed attractive.

The labor secretary, Bienvenido Leguesma, said some fishing operators accused of mistreating minors have had criminal charges filed against them. However, many divers are too scared to give evidence,, said Grizelda Mayu-Anda of the Environmental Legal Assistance Center. "The boat owners usually have powerful backers. One fishing company is part-owned by a former congressman. The divers are afraid their families will be harassed or killed if they testify," she said.

"Pa-aling is very destructive because it's very efficient," said Rodolfo Reyes, a research associate at the International Center for Living Aquatic Resources Management. "It just sucks up everything that's in its way. It's impossible for a reef to replenish the fish taken out at that rate."

The case of the 29 escaped divers has prompted congress to call for an investigation which could lead to tougher legislation. At present most fishing operators who hire minors get a small fine and temporary closure.

-- Guardian News Service