Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 20) — The Department of Agriculture estimates huge losses if Chinese vessels moored in parts of the West Philippine Sea are poaching the local supply.

“Kung maggagawa ng kalkulasyon, posible na kada isang fishing vessel ay makapangisda ng isang tonelada [If we do the math, it’s possible that a fishing vessel can harvest 1 ton of fish] –– then that can be the cost of what is being depleted. But again, this has to be validated and pursued based on details that we can get from the ground,” Agriculture Undersecretary Cheryl Marie Natividad-Caballero said in a Tuesday briefing.

She added that there are reports that while these vessels may not be harvesting commercial quantities, Chinese personnel are sourcing fish from Philippine waters for their consumption while on board.

Caballero also confirmed that Chinese poachers have been harvesting taklobo or giant clams nestled in deep waters, which are protected marine species.

There are currently five Philippine Navy vessels monitoring in the area, augmented by ships from the Philippine Coast Guard and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and by military air assets. The DA official assured that the BFAR is doing what it can to protect fisherfolk and has been coordinating with the Coast Guard for regular patrols.

Last April 9, a civilian boat carrying a news reporter and a television crew was chased by two missile attack craft of the Chinese Navy just around 90 nautical miles from mainland Palawan –– well within the country’s exclusive economic zone.

Despite these threats, Caballero said Filipinos should keep fishing in the waters disputed by China but declared to be part of the Philippine jurisdiction in a 2016 landmark ruling.

“Meron po tayong exclusive economic zone, napapangalagaan po yan ng ating Konstitusyon,” the DA official said.

“Huwag po tayong matakot mangisda, at nandyan po ang ating Fisheries Group at ang buong organisasyon ng National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea to help out in securing the protection of our fisherfolk,” she added.

[Translation: We have an exclusive economic zone that is protected by our Constitution. Do not be afraid to set sail and fish, we also have our Fisheries Group and the entire organization of the National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea to help out in securing the protection of our fisherfolk.]

The assurance came as authorities reported last week that about 240 of Beijing’s maritime militia are moored in areas within Manila’s exclusive exlusive economic zone, more than the 220 vessels spotted swarming the Julian Felipe Reef in early March.

DA Spokesperson Noel Reyes added that the government is against “illegal, unregulated, unreported” fishing.

READ: Not enough assets to patrol West PH Sea, AFP admits