Task Force Clears Taal Lake of Illegal Fishcages. Batangas Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer (CENRO), concurrent Taal Volcano Protected Landscape Protected Area Superintendent (TVPL-PASu) Laudemir Salac (left photo) supervises the towing from Brgy Gulod to the shorelines of Brgy Leviste and eventual dismantling of an illegal steel fishcage using an acetylene torch during clearing operations on Tuesday. Some 77 illegal fishcages made of steel and bamboo in the municipalities of Talisay—28 fishcages, Laurel—11, San Nicolas—8 and Agoncillo—30, were dismantled. DENR CALABARZON Regional Executive Director Tamoria, concurrently Chairman of Taal Volcano Protected Landscape’s Protected Area Management Board (TVPL-PAMB) said the dismantling is not just due to the recent fishkill but a continuing effort of the TVPL-PAMB to clear the lake of illegal fishcages, and immediately reduce the number to the agreed number as the ‘carrying capacity’ of a total of 6,000 fishcages distributed among the municipalities around the lake. Right photo shows the steel fishcage which was towed nearshore and dismantled. (Thru Estrella Z. Gallardo, PSciJourn MegaManila, 1.15.11)
