The dredging vessel in the waters of Aparri, Cagayan continue to burden fisherfolk despite having been grounded as far back as 2023. Fisherfolk said the vessel caused irreversible damage to the marine ecosystem and to marine resources.

In a consultation with fisherfolk, the Pambansang Lakas ng Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) learned that fish catch has continuously declined since the vessel ran aground. From previous earnings of ₱7,000 per fishing trip, fishers income dropped to as low as ₱900 at the height of the dredging, and now stands at ₱3,000-₱4,000.

In 2024, the fisherfolk shared that dredging created noise and excessive lumination, and dumped ecosystem disrupting chemicals, dropping the production of fish and aramang (tiny shrimp), which are their main sources of livelihood.

“The dredging operation on the Cagayan river may have ended but the fisherfolk are still suffering from its damages to fisheries and livelihoods,” Pamalakaya secretary general Salvador France said.

He added that the decline in the fisherfolk’s livelihoods is yet to be accounted for. The company that carried out the destructive dredging must indemnify the fishers. In Aparri alone, it affected the livelihoods of an estimated 11,000 fisherfolk.

Fisherfolk shared that illegal black sand mining is disguised as dredging operations and smuggled to China.

Amid widespread damage, Pamalakaya is calling for an investigation into the damage caused by dredging, a public disclosure of agreements made by the local government and the former Duterte regime regarding this, and immediate rehabilitation measures for the affected areas.