Philippine fisheries put food security at risk

Cabral, Reniel B.;Muallil, Richard N.;Mamauag, Samuel S.;Atrigenio, Michael P.

Abstract

[Extract] On 19 August 2024, the Philippine Supreme Court upheld a Regional Trial Court’s decision (1) allowing commercial fishing in municipal waters, which extend 15 km from the shore. This decision is inconsistent with the provisions of the Philippine Fisheries Code, which grants small-scale fishers preferential access to municipal waters (2), as well as the Local Government Code of 1991 (3) and the 1987 Philippine Constitution (4), which include protections for small-scale fishers. The country’s food security and livelihoods are at risk as a result. A motion for reconsideration has already been filed by the country’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (5). The government should continue to seek legal remedies that uphold the rights of small-scale fishers.

Journal

Science

Publication Name

Science

Volume

388

ISBN/ISSN

0036-8075

Edition

N/A

Issue

6750

Pages Count

Location

N/A

Publisher

American Association for the Advancement of Science

Publisher Url

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Publish Date

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Date

N/A

EISSN

N/A

DOI

10.1126/science.adv7145