Manila, Philippines – The Department of Agriculture (DA) has filed a motion with the Supreme Court (SC) to reconsider a recent ruling that allows commercial fishing vessels to operate in municipal waters traditionally reserved for small-scale fishers.

The DA, through the Office of the Solicitor General, expressed deep concern over the potential negative impacts of this decision on the livelihoods of small-scale fishers and the sustainability of marine ecosystems.

In a meeting with various stakeholders, including environmental groups and fisherfolk organizations, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. emphasized the importance of protecting the interests of small-scale fishers while conserving marine resources.

The SC's recent ruling upheld a lower court decision that declared certain provisions of the Fisheries Code unconstitutional. These provisions aimed to protect small-scale fishers by restricting commercial fishing activities in areas closer to the shore.

The DA argues that this ruling could lead to overfishing, deplete marine resources, and undermine the efforts of the government to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

Environmental groups echoed these concerns, warning that the ruling could devastate marine ecosystems as commercial vessels would have access to a significantly larger portion of coastal waters.

The DA is urging the SC to reconsider its decision and uphold the provisions of the Fisheries Code that protect the rights and livelihoods of small-scale fishers.

The department is also implementing various initiatives to support small-scale fishers, such as providing access to technology and promoting sustainable fishing practices.