More than 500 fisherfolk, civil society groups and coastal communities across the Philippines have come together to demand action to protect their livelihoods.
The march – coinciding with National Fisherfolks Day – was to demand action from the government to protect municipal waters from commercial fishing and reclamation.
“Small-scale fishermen are losing their livelihoods, and there is a risk that fish stocks along the coast will be depleted due to large-scale commercial fishing,” warned Pablo Rosales, chairperson of PANGISDA-Pilipinas, a national alliance of small-scale fisherfolk.
Protesters from Cavite, Laguna, Manila, Navotas, Bataan and Zambales came together to call for an end to commercial encroachment in the 15-kilometre municipal water zones. These areas, protected by law, are crucial to the survival of artisanal fishing communities.
“The 15-kilometre municipal waters are not just lines on a map – they’re lifelines for small fishers in my community,” said Frank Melgar Marba, a community leader and climate survivor from Dinagat Islands.
“Our fisheries production has not been getting any better the past years,” added Atty. Rose-Liza Eisma-Osorio of Oceana. “We need officials committed to law enforcement and to helping fisherfolk rise from poverty.”
Greenpeace Philippines has echoed these calls, pointing to the escalating climate crisis. “Moves to open up municipal waters to commercial fishing are completely insane,” said Virginia Benosa-Llorin, Greenpeace senior climate justice campaigner.
Antonio Abletes, a climate advocate from Eastern Samar, added: “We truly believe that fisherfolk represent the people. Let us protect the rights of the Filipino fisherfolk.”
