pegasus Petition filed vs SC ruling on big-scale fishing in town waters

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines —  Fisherfolk and civil society groups slammed a Supreme Court ruling allowing commercial fishing vessels within 15-kilometer municipal waters, citing its detrimental impact on the livelihood of small-scale fishers and the environment.

Oceana Philippines, the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice, and other groups submitted a petition to intervene in the ruling on Tuesday.

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They were challenging the SC First Division decision upholding the Malabon Regional Trial Court ruling on Mercidar Fishing Corp.’s petition to declare that granting municipal fishermen special access to fish in the 15-kilometer municipal waters as unconstitutional.

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Before the filing, hundreds of fishermen, urban poor activists, and civil society and environmental support groups gathered at the SC grounds on Padre Faura Street in Ermita, Manila, to voice their concerns about the alleged harmful impacts of the decision.

Lawyer Gloria Estenzo Ramos, vice president of Oceana Philippines, said the country’s fisheries were in danger due to “unchecked overfishing and illegal practices.”

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“To protect both our marine ecosystems and our artisanal fisherfolk, we must enforce the law and stand firm against exploitation. We appeal to the state: listen to the citizens, local governments, and fisherfolk because they are the most affected by this decision,” she said in a mix of English and Filipino.

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READ: Group slams SC ruling allowing big-time fishers in municipal waters

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Joining Oceana as petitioners are the following:

spintowin Philippine Movement for Climate Justice Mayor Ithamar Espinosa representing the municipality of Santa Fe, Bantayan, Cebu; former Vice Mayor Rowel Saldajeno of San Jose, Antique, who is president of the Funda Dalipe Fisherfolks Association and chair of the Municipal Fishery and Aquatic Resources Management Council Arnel Boholst, a municipal fisherman based in Bacacay, Albay, and chairperson of the Lagonoy Gulf Integrated Fishery and Aquatic Resources Management Council Regional Fisheries Training and Fisherfolk Coordination Division in Tayhi, Tabaco City

Meanwhile, Norlan Pagal, president of the Anapog Fishing Association in San Remigio, Cebu, expressed how small-scale fishermen were “slowly being killed off” by commercial vessels capable of fishing on a wide part of the ocean.

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“Because of the SC’s decision, we are slowly being killed off. As they allow commercial fishers to enter municipal waters – what can we do? These corporations can go far and wide into the ocean. We only use oars and small pumpboats – we cannot compete with them,” he said.

The groups noted that the Fisheries Code provision reserving municipal waters for small-scale fishermen has served as a “lifeline” for marginalized communities that depend on traditional fishing methods for their livelihoods.

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For his part, Dr. Wilfredo Campos, a scientist from OceanBio Lab at the College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines in the Visayas, emphasized the long-term impacts of overfishing:

“Fishing is a privilege of every Filipino, but it comes with responsibilities. The state needs to ensure equity among user groups and stakeholders while safeguarding adequate resources to support livelihoods,” he said.

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“Clear evidence from investigations since the 1980s shows that most of our traditional coastal fishing grounds are overfished. Many of these require a 40-60% reduction in fishing effort from 1980s levels to attain maximum sustainable yield. This decision exacerbates an already dire situationpegasus, threatening not only marine biodiversity but also the food security of millions of Filipinos,” he added.

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