MANILA — Fisherfolk group Pangisda Pilipinas protested in front of the Supreme Court on the 27th anniversary of the passage of Republic Act No. 8550 — the Fisheries Code of the Philippines of 1998 — which gave small-scale fishers exclusive rights to municipal waters.

That protection has been declared unconstitutional, which would allow large fishing vessels within 15 kilometers from shore, a development that fisherfolk say would kill their livelihoods.

The group on Thursday asked the high court to reverse the ruling of its 1st Division that affirmed a Malabon Regional Trial Court's decision on a petition filed by a fishing company.

Pangisda Pilipinas president Pablo Rosales said small fisherfolk and their families are bearing the brunt of the SC decision as commercial fishers come into municipal waters.

He said the average catch for small fishers even when they had exclusive rights was around five kilos.

“At sa panahon ng pagpasok muli at pagtaas ng commercial fishing sa municipal waters baka maging tatlong kilo na lang,” said Rosales.

(And in the time that commercial fishing comes in and increases, we fear that will go down to just three kilos)

Lawmakers seek inquiry on impact of commercial fishing in municipal waters

While commercial fishers can enter municipal waters, it would be difficult for small-scale fishers to venture far from their home shores.

In the resolution promulgated by the 1st Division on August 19, 2024, the court upheld the decision of the Malabon Regional Trial Court declared parts of the Fisheries Code’s preferential access provisions as unconstitutional.

Rosales said their group has a pending motion for intervention before the Supreme Court to register their opposition to the decision of the 1st Division.

“Kaya po itong pagkilos na ito ay bahagi ng pagdiriwang ng anibersaryo ng Fisheries Code at kahilingan namin sa Korte Suprema na kilalanin ang kasaysayan ng pagsasabatas ng RA 8550,” Rosales said.

(That's why this protest today is part of our commemoration of the anniversary of the Fisheries Code and our appeal to Supreme Court to acknowledge the history of the law)

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