DA chief concerned over SC ruling on commercial fishing

MANILA, Philippines — Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. on Friday expressed concern over the decision of the Supreme Court allowing commercial fishing vessels access to municipal waters, previously reserved for small-scale fishers under the Fisheries Code.

Tiu Laurel warned of the high tribunal decision’s potential adverse effects on the livelihood of small fishers and its impact on marine ecosystems.

“At a depth of seven fathoms or 12 meters, corals are at risk and our scarce marine resources could face further depletion,” Tiu Laurel said.

Tiu Laurel met with various organizations, including the Federation of Free Farmers, Oceana Philippines, Magsasaka Partylist, the National Anti-Poverty Commission and the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice, to discuss the ruling’s implications.

According to him, the DA, through the Office of the Solicitor General, has filed a motion for reconsideration with the SC to overturn its decision allowing commercial fishing vessels access to municipal waters.

The SC’s First Division had upheld a Malabon Regional Trial Court decision declaring the Fisheries Code’s preferential access provisions unconstitutional.

The petition was filed by Mercidar Fishing Corp.

Tiu Laurel, whose family operates one of the biggest commercial fishing enterprises in the country, cited the DA’s efforts to support small fishers.

He also stressed the importance of sustainable fishing practices, including standardizing net sizes to prevent overfishing.

For her part, Oceana Philippines vice president Gloria Estenzo-Ramos warned that the ruling could devastate marine resources, since commercial vessels would be allowed to fish in nearly 90 percent of coastal waters.

“Tracking devices, such as the Vessel Monitoring System, would become irrelevant,” she said, referring to the system designed to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.