Various stakeholders on Friday rejected the proposal to allow commercial fishing vessels to go fishing within the 15-kilometer municipal fishing ground due to its potential adverse impact on the environment and the livelihood of municipal fishermen. In particular, they rejected House Bill (HB) 7583 filed by Cebu Rep. Pablo John F. Garcia which seeks to allow commercial fishing between 10.1 to 15 kilometers inside the 15-kilometer municipal fishing ground. They said municipal fishing grounds are already overfished and allowing commercial fishing in municipal fishing grounds will further deplete the country’s fish stocks. Commercial fishing vessels are often accused of using destructive fishing methods that would threaten coastal and marine ecosystems.

Mayuga, J. L. (2021, February 8). Proposal allowing commercial vessels in municipal fishing grounds opposed. Business Mirror, p. A5.