Illegal commercial fishing in municipal waters is worsening poverty and food insecurity in coastal communities as the country’s fish stocks continue to decline international advocacy group Oceana said. In fact, the group said latest data revealed that 87 percent of municipal waters are now classified as overfished. On Thursday, March 20, participants of the Convergence Summit for the Protection of Municipal Waters raised alarm over the Supreme Court’s (SC) decision upholding a lower court ruling that removed the preferential access of small-scale fisherfolk and the authority of local governments over 15-kilometer municipal waters.

Santos, J. (2025, March 21). Illegal commercial fishing worsens poverty, threatens food security. Manila Bulletin, p. 5.