Illegal fishing in municipal waters has long been a thorn in the side of small-scale fisherfolk as it threatens their livelihoods, food security, and the fragile marine environment. Despite the existence of laws like the amended Fisheries Code (Republic Act 10654), enforcement remains weak due to systemic challenges, particularly the lack of transparency in vessel monitoring data.

The Editorial Board. (2024, December 14-15). Transparency key to combat illegal fishing [Opinion]. DailyGuardian, p. 4.