Bacolod Diocese Urges Review of Commercial Fishing Ruling

BACOLOD CITY – The Diocese of Bacolod has called on lawmakers, local officials, and the judiciary to reexamine a Supreme Court (SC) decision allowing commercial fishing vessels within the 15-kilometer municipal waters.

In a pastoral statement released May 27, Bishop Patricio Buzon emphasized the severe impact of the ruling on marginalized coastal communities in Negros Occidental, where more than 45,000 small fishers depend on these waters for survival.

“Our small-scale fisherfolk are not merely workers of the sea, but they too play a vital role in food security and sustainable development, and yet they are often excluded from decision-making processes that directly affect their survival,” the bishop said.

He appealed for government dialogue with affected communities as they face the threat of further economic hardship and stressed the Church’s moral duty to prioritize the poor and vulnerable.

Buzon said that allowing commercial fishing in waters legally reserved for municipal fishers could jeopardize local livelihoods, compromise food security, and cause long-term damage to marine ecosystems.

He noted that for many, fishing is not just a job but their only means of survival.

“Thus, to endanger their access to the seas is to endanger their lives and future.”

The Supreme Court ruling, issued Dec. 19, 2024, lifted the 15-kilometer municipal water demarcation that had previously prioritized municipal fisherfolk and restricted commercial fishing operations within those waters.

The decision has raised serious concern from various sectors of society.

The Diocese is mobilizing parishes in coastal areas to launch awareness campaigns on the issue.

The provincial government of Negros Occidental has also voiced concern, aligning with national efforts to safeguard municipal waters for small-scale fishers and promote sustainable coastal development.