Implementation Gaps in Fisheries Law

According to Oceana, an international marine protection organization, recent findings reveal troubling issues within the Philippine fisheries sector. Despite the establishment of a strong legal framework under Republic Act 10654 (RA 10654), the report highlights significant failures in implementation that hinder effective enforcement against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

Oceana states, “While RA 10654 provides a robust legal framework, enforcement failures at every level leave the law without teeth.” The economic repercussions of these enforcement failures are staggering, with IUU fishing estimated to have cost the Philippines around PHP 5.4 billion (approximately $92.4 million) between 2022 and 2023.

Destructive Practices on the Rise

The report further noted that destructive fishing practices, such as the use of fine mesh nets, were prevalent in 74% of local government units. These methods deplete future fish stocks by capturing juveniles before they can breed. Additionally, the fishing industry is grappling with a workforce crisis, as the average fisher is between 49 and 52 years old, with younger generations abandoning the profession due to low incomes.

Despite the widespread knowledge of these harmful practices, enforcement remains sporadic, and penalties are deemed insufficient. Oceana Vice President Von Hernandez condemned the situation, stating, “Our fishers are the ones putting food on our table, yet they are the ones going hungry and struggling from poverty.” He criticized the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) for prioritizing amendments that favor commercial fishing fleets, further jeopardizing recovering stocks and small fishers.

Tracking and Monitoring Shortcomings

Central to the inefficacy in addressing these issues is the government’s inability to reliably track fishing activities, despite mandates under RA 10654 for effective vessel monitoring. The report indicated that the implementation of vessel monitoring measures faced delays due to legal challenges from the commercial fishing sector. Although BFAR now reports over 90% coverage, it fails to share critical data related to fish catch and enforcement actions.

The report highlighted discrepancies between different registration systems. In 2022, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Census recorded 853,065 fishing operators, while the BFAR’s Fisherfolk Registration (FishR) showed over 1.17 million. These inconsistencies compromise resource allocation and policy planning, particularly in high-pressure fishing regions.

Critical State of Fisheries

The report described a dire situation for the Philippine fisheries, stating that the country is losing 45 million kilograms of fish annually. Alice Joan Ferrer, Executive Director of Too Big To Ignore Philippines, emphasized the need for effective fisheries management, asserting, “We must protect the fisheries sector. It is a foundation of food security, culture, and economic resilience.”

Urgent actions are necessary to implement the Fisheries Code and hold officials accountable, as the nation faces the imminent collapse of its fisheries. The past 13 years have witnessed a decline of 591,136 metric tons of fish catch, largely due to “weak law enforcement and failed governance.” Ferrer concluded, “We have all the laws; what we need to do is implement them correctly and ensure all agencies fulfill their mandates.”