FISHERFOLK groups on Thursday staged a protest at the Department of Agriculture (DA) to denounce the “rapid increase” of commercial fishing vessels in municipal waters.
Municipal fishing waters are legally designated nearshore marine and inland water zones reserved primarily for small-scale, artisanal fisherfolk. These are typically defined as areas within 15 kilometers from shorelines, meant to protect local livelihoods and marine ecosystems.
However, a 2024 Supreme Court ruling allowed commercial fishing within the perimeter.
At the protest rally, fisherfolk organizations criticized Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. for failing to challenge the court ruling.
Citing data from the Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusan ng Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya), the groups said commercial fishing vessels spotted in municipal waters reached a five-year high of 3,853 in March.
This became prevalent two years after the Supreme Court ruling, Pamalakaya national chairman Fernando Hicap said, noting that some vessels have allegedly been seen five to seven kilometers from the shoreline.
“This has had a serious impact on the livelihoods of small-scale fishermen, [with] large fishing boats depleting fish and other resources,” Hicap said.
“The DA and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources have taken no concrete action to protect the livelihoods of fishermen from big business. It seems that these departments have allowed commercial fishing to plunder the traditional fishing grounds of small-scale fishermen,” he added.
The protest rally was attended by fisherfolk groups from Cebu, Negros Occidental, Panay island, Batangas, and La Union.