The Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) in coordination with the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) is determined to appeal a Supreme Court resolution removing the exclusivity of municipal fishing grounds to small fishers. In a statement, the DA-BFAR maintained that the SC’s First Division resolution, which will eventually pave the way for commercial fishing vessels to fish within the 15-kilometer municipal waters, is not yet final. “The agency is dedicated to ensuring a fair and just resolution. This highlights the importance of the case in shaping policies and programs that impact the fisheries sector, particularly about environmental protection, resource management, and the rights of affected stakeholders,” it said in a recent statement.

Mayuga, J. L. (2025, January 1). SC reso allowing big fishers in municipal waters scored. Business Mirror, p. A10.