The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) is raising alarms over the Supreme Courtโs (SC) decision to allow commercial fishing in municipal waters, pointing to a growing body of evidence that overfishing is threatening the sustainability of the nationโs marine ecosystems and the livelihoods of small-scale fishermen.
Recent studies have painted a grim picture of the state of municipal waters in the Philippines. A 2023 report by the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI) revealed that 75% of these waters are overfished. The fish stocks declining by as much as 30% in some regions over the past decade, according to the study.
Such findings have intensified concerns that the SCโs ruling could accelerate the depletion of marine resources.
BFAR: Profound Implications on Sustainability
In its motion for reconsideration, BFAR emphasized the far-reaching consequences of the ruling.
โDA-BFAR recognizes the gravity of this case, which has profound implications for sustainable resource management, environmental protection, and the welfare of affected communities,โ the agency said.
International marine conservation group Oceana and other stakeholders have echoed these concerns. In a petition to intervene in the case, Oceana warned that the ruling could further deplete already stressed marine resources, raising fish prices and undermining food security.
The petition cited a 2023 University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute study, which highlighted how overfishing, compounded by climate change impacts, threatens the stability of marine ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.
โAllowing commercial fishing in municipal waters disregards the alarming evidence of overexploitation,โ Oceana representatives said. โCoupled with rising sea temperatures and ocean acidification, these pressures push marine resources to the brink of collapse.โ
Reforms
The Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) has called for a thorough review of the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998. โReforms are necessary to safeguard the interests of artisanal fishermen and grant them exclusive rights to fishing grounds and coastlines,โ said Pamalakaya Vice Chairperson Ronnel Arambulo.
The Supreme Court decision stemmed from a petition by Mercidar Fishing Corp., which challenged the constitutionality of preferential access for small-scale fishers to municipal waters. Critics of the ruling argue that it prioritizes corporate interests over environmental sustainability and community welfare.
Earlier, the Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) and the Magsasaka party-list criticized BFAR and the Department of Agriculture (DA) for failing to appeal the decision within the required period. FFF Board Chair Leonardo Montemayor, a former agriculture secretary, proposed legislative reforms to rectify what he described as โgrave injustice and economic injuryโ to small-scale fisherfolk.
BFAR reiterated its commitment to protecting small-scale fishers and conserving the nationโs aquatic resources. The agencyโs stance aligns with global best practices, including a 2024 FAO report advocating for community-based fisheries management to achieve equitable and sustainable use of marine resources.
