U.S. funds new community reporting center to combat illegal fishing

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY — The U.S. Embassy in the Philippines, through the Fish Right Project, launched the Community Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing Reporting Center in partnership with the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development.  The new facility strengthens Philippine-led efforts to combat IUU fishing—a shared economic and security threat for both the United States and the Philippines.

Building on the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development’s existing coordination mechanisms with local and national agencies, Fish Right will integrate American technologies, such as Starlink and data visualization software EarthRanger, to strengthen connectivity, improve the collection and organization of community reports, and support timely information-sharing with Philippine authorities.

The Center will serve as a community hub for receiving and organizing real-time reports from fishermen on suspected IUU fishing, unusual vessel activity, and other illegal maritime activities.  With support from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, the National Maritime Center, and the Provincial Government of Palawan, these reports will be forwarded to appropriate Philippine government agencies for validation, follow-up action, and feedback to local fishing communities.

“Illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing is both an economic and a national security challenge.  It depletes fish stocks, disrupts supply chains, distorts markets, threatens food security, and places responsible fishers and legitimate businesses at a disadvantage,” said U.S. Embassy Officer Taylor Fincher.  “Addressing illegal fishing and related maritime concerns is an important area of cooperation between the United States and the Philippines.”

“By providing fisherfolk with a safe and accessible way to report suspected illegal fishing and other unlawful maritime activities, this Community IUU Fishing Reporting Center empowers coastal communities to become active partners in protecting our fisheries,” said Department of Agriculture Undersecretary for Fisheries Drusila Esther Bayate.

The launch of the Community IUU Fishing Reporting Center coincides with the 80th anniversary of U.S.-Philippines diplomatic relations and the 75th anniversary of the Mutual Defense Treaty between the United States and the Philippines, underscoring the two nations’ enduring partnership in upholding international law, promoting lawful activity at sea, and advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific.

The Fish Right Project supports Philippine-led efforts to address illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing in the Philippine exclusive economic zone bordering the South China Sea.  It strengthens community reporting by connecting fishers’ observations with Philippine government systems, supports marine scientific research to inform decision-making, and promotes better market access for safe, legal, and sustainably sourced seafood.

U.S. and Philippine officials join fisheries representatives to formally open the Community IUU Fishing Reporting Center in Palawan on July 30.