Yamsuan

Yamsuan, BFAR discuss measures to protect welfare of small fisherfolk, and ensure sustainability of marine resources

January 13, 2025 Ryan Ponce Pacpaco 92 views

REPRESENTATIVE Brian Raymund Yamsuan met Monday with key officials of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to discuss possible new legislation and other measures that would ensure protection for the welfare of small fisherfolk and stop the unabated exploitation of the country’s dwindling marine resources.

As chair of the House Committee on Aquaculture and Fisheries Resources, Yamsuan called for the meeting after several fishers’ organizations, local government units (LGUs) and civil society groups appealed to the Supreme Court’s First Division to reconsider its ruling that could clear the way for commercial fishing companies to have unobstructed access to municipal waters.

Under the Fisheries Code, the 15-kilometer municipal water zone is limited to the use of small fisherfolk.

The SC First Division ruling upheld a 2023 decision of the Malabon Regional Trial Court (RTC) which invalidated provisions of the Fisheries Code that gave small fisherfolk this preferential access, and thus, allowed the Mercidar Fishing Corporation, a commercial firm, to operate within this zone.

“Our primary concerns here are the livelihood and welfare of our 2.5 million small-scale fisherfolk, and our food security. We need to make sure that the impact of every decision made would not imperil efforts to boost our food security and endanger the sustainability of our marine resources,” Yamsuan said.

“Kailangan din natin mapangalagaan ang kapakanan ng ating mga maliliit na mangingisda na nanatiling pinakamahirap na sektor sa ating bansa. Our actions should improve their welfare, not drive them deeper into poverty,” he added.

Yamsuan said he was informed by BFAR officials led by OIC-Director Isidro Velayo Jr. that they have been closely coordinating with the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) to seek the reversal of the SC ruling.

BFAR also said that the SC decision was not yet final.

Yamsuan expressed concern over the possible far-reaching negative consequences of the SC decision, amid the continuing decline in the Philippines’ fish catch.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) show that the Philippines produced 1.02 million metric tons (MT) of fish in the second quarter of 2024, down by 6.2 percent from the 1.07 million MT output recorded in the same period a year ago.

This plunge continued in the third quarter of 2024, when the total volume of fisheries production was registered at 0.97 million metric tons or a 5.1 percent drop from the 1.02 million metric tons output in the same quarter of the previous year, according to the PSA.

“Filipinos rely heavily on fish and other seafood as their primary source of protein, which is why we should remain vigilant in safeguarding and conserving our fisheries and aquatic resources,” Yamsuan said.

Prior to the meeting, several municipal fishers and local government units have already petitioned the Supreme Court to allow them to intervene in the case that affirmed the Malabon RTC ruling on Mercidar Fishing so that they can express their concerns on the issue.

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