Fishers, youth press Marcos to protect municipal waters

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About 300 fishers and youth gathered at the Sunken Garden of the University of the Philippines to call on President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to protect the 15-kilometer municipal waters reserved under fisheries law for small Filipino fishermen.

The World Oceans Day activity, organized by Oceana with PANGISDA Pilipinas, youth groups and university students, centered on the demand for stronger enforcement against commercial fishing vessels entering municipal waters.

Shortly after converging, about 150 fishers and youth formed a human banner of the number “15” to emphasize the legally protected distance from the shoreline.

The participants later exchanged stories about their daily lives and discussed the need for fishers and young people to work together to help ensure future generations have enough fish for food.

Von Hernandez of Oceana said the mobilization sought to amplify the concerns of artisanal fishermen, the youth and other sectors opposing commercial fishing in municipal waters.

“This World Oceans Day, we are mobilizing to amplify the voices of artisanal fishermen, the youth and other sectors who are pushing back against the continuing intrusion of commercial fishers in the nation’s municipal waters,” Hernandez said.

“The law says 15 km belongs to artisanal fishers. Today, we draw the line by calling on President Bongbong Marcos and Congress to protect and uphold the rights of small Filipino fishermen to these municipal waters. The future of our oceans and fisheries is anchored on the uncompromising defense of municipal waters against commercial and destructive fishing,” he said.

“When commercial boats cross the 15 km line, they don’t just steal catch. They are stealing from the poor, they are destroying the livelihoods and dignity of small fishermen- and they are putting the nation’s food security at risk!” Hernandez said.

“We cannot celebrate the ocean while ignoring this injustice happening in our shores. We demand enforcement of the 15 km limit, and an end to commercial theft from the poorest sectors and the communities who depend on these waters the most,” he added.

Oceana also launched a petition-letter asking Marcos to direct the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources to strictly enforce municipal fishers’ use of the 15-kilometer municipal waters under Republic Act 10654, in coordination with the Philippine Coast Guard, the PNP Maritime Group and local government units.

The group said participating individuals and organizations signed the petition to defend the 15-kilometer provision against any attempt — legislative, judicial or administrative — to weaken it.

“We appeal to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to uphold the law’s promise to our municipal fisherfolk. For generations, they have carried this nation on their backs — keeping our ocean alive and our people fed. From their small boats to our dining tables, they form the living link that connects our nation to the sea. Through responsible fishing and the protection of coral reefs, they have sustained the very ecosystems that nourish us today. Because of them, we are still able to eat fish. Now, it is time for the law and the State to deliver the protection they have long deserved,” the petition stated.

The call was made in connection with World Oceans Day, observed every June 8 to highlight the importance of oceans and the need for their protection.

The United Nations says the ocean covers more than 70% of the planet, produces at least 50% of its oxygen and serves as the main source of protein for more than a billion people worldwide.

In the Philippines, RA 10654 amended the Fisheries Code to strengthen measures against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and to support conservation and fisheries management.

Oceana said the food source and livelihood of poor artisanal fisherfolk are compromised when commercial fishing encroaches on near-shore waters.

The group also said destructive projects, including reclamation and seabed quarrying, have been allowed inside these waters.

Oceana said government inaction and the “impunity of commercial fishing interests” have contributed to declining fish catch and poverty in coastal communities.

The issue remains part of a broader legal and policy debate after a Supreme Court ruling in 2024 involving commercial fishing access to municipal waters prompted concern from fisherfolk and environmental groups.

BFAR has moved to appeal the ruling, according to reports, citing its potential impact on fisheries policy, environmental conservation and livelihoods.