Laguna de Bay responds to the needs and demands of a watershed population of some 6 million (NSO 2000), and hosts an estimated number of 10,000 small-, medium-, and large-scale enterprises.

A multi-use resource, it functions as a transport route, a reservoir for floodwater and a major source of domestic, industrial and and agricultural use. It also used for hydroelectric power generation, industrial water-cooling and recreational activities. At present, however, fishery remains to be the best most essential activity for which Laguna de Bay is utilized.

Social conflicts resulting from fierce competition for Laguna de Bay's aquatic resources, harmful fishing activities and practices, and the mounting strain on the Lake's natural carrying capacity for aquaculture production, aggravated by the introduction of fishpen culture technology during the mid 1970's, prompted the Laguna Lake Development Authority to formulate the Fishery Zoning and Management Plan for Laguna de Bay.

In 1983, the Laguna Lake Development Authority developed the Fishery Zoning and Management Plan (ZOMAP) for Laguna de Bay. It was designed to rationalize the management and regulate the utilization of the Lake's fishery resources, as well as to resolve equity problems among large-scale fishpen operators and small-scale fishermen dependent upon water reach.

The Revised Laguna de Bay ZOMAP, an improvement on the initial ZOMAP developed in 1983, was approved by the LLDA Board of Directors on October 1995, as a fundamental component of the Master Plan for the Laguna de Bay Region. The Master Plan was approved for implementation by then President Fidel V. Ramos on June 18, 1996. In 1999, the fishpen belt as laid out in the 1996 Revised ZOMAP was further modified and was duly approved per LLDA Board Resolution No. 95, Series of 1999. Its implementation was then placed under LLDA's Lake Management Division.

ZOMAP 1999

The Fishpen Belt

• Composed of two separate layers in the West and Central Bays at a distance of 2-4 kilometers from the shore.

• Subdivided into blocks and assigned with an alpha numeric code for identification and control.

• A mandatory distance of 40 kilometers on all sides from adjacent structures ins maintained.

• No structures are constructed from a distance of 0.50 kilometers from the navigational lane to avoid fishkill in the event of oil spills.

• Structures outside the belt are subjected for demolition.

The Fishcage Belt

• Single Layered and situated 200 meters from the shore.

• No fishcage belt was delineated in areas directly influenced by the lake's tributary rivers.

The ZOMAP for Laguna de Bay

The Laguna de Bay ZOMAP was developed with respect to the Lake's carrying capacity for aquaculture, its function as a transport route, and the factors affecting sediment transport and distribution of food nutrients within the ecosystem. It defined the layout and provided the guidelines for the proper allocation of aquaculture structures within the Lake.

Areas were allotted for fishpens, fishcages, fish sanctuaries and open fishing. Navigational lanes and barangay access lanes were also identifies to facilitate the movement of people, goods and services within the lake.

Total Area and Allocation for Aquaculture

Fishpen

A total fishpen belt area of 10,000 hectares is allocated for fishpen aquaculture. Fishpen area per municipality was distributed on a pro-rated basis, taking into consideration the area of their municipal water as delineated by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR). Fishpen areas are awarded through public bidding.

The fishpen fee is set at P 6,000 per hectare. Lakeshore municipalities and cities with fishpen structures off their shores, receive 20% of total amount of fishpen feed collected while those without receive 15%. The Fishpen Fee Shares are given to Local Government Units to fund their environmental Projects.

Fishpens are classified according to type of ownership with the following area allocation:

Fishcage

* A maximum stocking of 30,000 fingerlings per hectare is prescribed.

Procedural Guidelines in Securing Fishpen (FP)/ Fishcage (FC) Permit.