LOOK | Small fisherfolk from various fisherfolk federations trooped to Mendiola, Manila to mark National Fisherfolk Day today, May 30.
Militant fishers’ group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA), along with other fisherfolk organizations and non-government organizations (NGOs), demanded that the Marcos administration reject the Supreme Court ruling allowing commercial fishing vessels to operate within municipal waters.
“Various federations and associations of small fisherfolk have once again come together for the united goal of upholding our rights over the 15-kilometer municipal fishing waters.
President Marcos has yet to respond to our strong opposition to this Court decision that favors commercial fishing.
If fully implemented, this will not only threaten the livelihood of small fisherfolk but also endanger marine resources due to the unsustainable and often destructive methods used in commercial fishing.
Examples of these are trawls, purse seines, and Danish seines, which destroy coral reefs under the sea,” said Salvador France, PAMALAKAYA Secretary General, during the protest.
According to PAMALAKAYA, approximately 90% of every municipal water area will be open to exploitation by big fishing firms if the Court ruling is fully implemented. The said ruling will allow commercial fishers within municipal waters with depths beyond seven fathoms (12.8 meters). Based on an initial study by a marine scientist, only 10% of municipal waters are less than seven fathoms deep.