Philippine fishermen netted by South China Sea geopolitics over Scarborough Shoal: ‘we’re always being harassed’
- The tussle between China and the Philippines has strangled Filipino fishermen’s access to the fishing grounds which have sustained their community for generations
- As the Scarborough Shoal’s strategic importance grows, instances of Chinese intimidation and Filipinos fighting back have also increased
This story was supported by the Pulitzer Center
“Kaya pa, I can still do it,” Rony smiles as he looks down the barrel of his spear gun. A split second later, the sharp end pierces the wooden plank set against a mango tree as a target outside his home on the northern Philippine island of San Salvador, in Zambales province.
Even at 56, he can dive down to 15 metres (nearly 50 feet), holding his breath for up to eight minutes at a time, hoping the grouper, red snapper and mackerel that lurk beneath the waves provide reward enough for food and financial security for his family.
But how much longer he will be able to do this is in the balance, as geopolitics strangles his access to the rich, traditional fishing grounds that have sustained his community for generations.
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Livelihoods lost: The fishermen snared in the Scarborough Shoal dispute
Fishing is the main source of income for the more than 500 households on the idyllic island of San Salvador, where ramshackle huts nose towards white sandy beaches and only the occasional day-tripping tourist visits its shallow coral reefs.