Experts warned that the recent Supreme Court (SC) ruling allowing commercial fishing in municipal waters will have significant economic and social implications, particularly for small-scale fishers. Dr. Rosalie Hall, executive director of the Center for Integrative and Development Studies at the University of the Philippines-Visayas, said on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025, that concerns are growing over the potential displacement of subsistence fishers who rely on these waters for their livelihood. Subsistence fishers are individuals who catch fish for their own consumption or for local sale. They typically use low-technology gear and operate near the shore.

Cacho-Laurejas, K. O. (2025, February 21). Artisanal fishers at risk after SC's fishing ruling. SunStar Cebu, p. 7.