Championing science-based policy reforms, sustainably managed fisheries and vibrant marine ecosystems since 2014 in the Philippines.
December, 2024
Philippines Installs Tracking Systems on 90% of Commercial Fishing Vessels
The Philippines’ Fisheries Bureau has installed vessel monitoring systems on 90% of the country’s commercial fishing vessels. This news follows significant campaigning by Oceana and our allies and a 2023 Presidential memorandum requiring the full implementation of the tracking systems to be installed in the commercial fishing fleet. These devices help prevent illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing by tracking the identity, location, and speed of fishing vessels. This decision is especially helpful in deterring commercial fishing vessels from encroaching in municipal waters that are reserved for artisanal fishers, which helps protect their livelihoods.
August, 2023
Philippines Requires Rebuilding of Sardine Fisheries
Following campaigning by Oceana and our allies, the Philippine government announced it will require all 12 of the country’s fisheries management areas (FMAs) to implement a national plan to rebuild sardine fisheries by March 2024. Sardines are a key resource in the Philippines, accounting for 15% of the total fish catch and the nation’s marine fisheries. They are also an affordable, nutrient-rich protein, making them a popular choice in many Filipino households. This high commercial demand, however, has led to rampant overfishing and population decline. Oceana advocated for this science-based management plan, which was approved in 2020, to help restore the health and long-term abundance of the species. The comprehensive plan includes rules for catching sardines, closed seasons, and limits on juvenile catch. It also requires measures to empower artisanal fishers, such as opportunities for fishers to generate alternative income during closed seasons. Oceana will continue to work with artisanal fishers, coastal communities, and governmental officials to ensure the plan is properly implemented across the FMAs.
July, 2023
Philippines Requires Commercial Fishing Vessels to Install Monitoring Devices
President Marcos of the Philippines issued a memorandum directing the Fisheries Bureau to implement vessel monitoring rules and install devices to track location, speed, and catch in all commercial fishing vessels greater than 3.1 GT in the country. This rule, which follows significant campaigning by Oceana and our allies, will help prevent and deter illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, which accounts for up to 40% of the fish caught in the Philippines. Additionally, requiring tracking devices will help deter commercial fishing vessel encroachment into municipal waters that are reserved for artisanal fishers. Such encroachment has resulted in overfishing, habitat destruction, and fish stock depletion, which threatens coastal communities and artisanal fishers, who rely on a healthy ocean for food security and to support their livelihoods.
June, 2023
Public Database in the Philippines Increases Transparency at Sea
The Philippines’ Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources officially launched the Fisheries National Administrative Register, a free database that features information on Philippines-flagged commercial fishing vessels with previous violations under the country’s amended Fisheries Code. The register also includes information on foreign-flagged vessels involved in poaching in Philippines waters, including the penalties previously imposed. Oceana’s campaigning was key to ensuring this register was published and made publicly available. Public information is a key factor in deterring illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing and promoting transparency at sea.
February, 2022
Philippines Government Protects Marine Ecosystems and Fishers From Harmful Coastal Development Projects
A national agency in the Philippines issued an order to better protect the ocean and local communities from harmful land reclamation projects along the coast. Dubbed “dump-and-fill,” these development projects can threaten marine biodiversity, hurt fisherfolk and food security, and remove natural buffers — such as mangroves — that protect communities from waves and typhoons. On February 17, the Department of the Interior and Local Government determined that all projects by local governments must comply with the Philippine Environmental Impact Assessment System Act, Fisheries Code, and other environmental laws before they are approved. This decision is a direct result of campaigning by Oceana and its allies, who drew national attention to dump-and-fill projects that were being approved without proper environmental assessments and compliance with legal requirements, such as genuine public consultations.
