The Philippines has been losing approximately P62 billion annually to illegal fishing based on a study released by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) on Tuesday. The study, which quantified illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the Philippines showed that illegal fishing amounted to 27 to 40 percent of fish caught in 2019. “Addressing IUU fishing remains an important Philippine government priority. USAID has worked with BFAR for over three decades to promote sustainable fisheries. And we are pleased that this report will further strengthen government efforts to help prevent IUU here in one of the world’s most biodiverse marine sanctuaries,” said USAID Philippines mission director Lawrence Hardy II.

Campos, O. V. (2021, March 11). Study: PH losing ₱62b yearly to illegal fishing. Manila Standard, p. A3.