Abstract
The chapter focuses on assessing how the rights of small-scale fishers and their communities can be secured in the context of fisheries management areas (FMAs) in the Philippines. The FMA is a new fisheries management system enabled by the amended Fisheries Code (Republic Act 10654) that aims to apply the precautionary principle and ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management. This assessment shows how the eight small-scale fisheries issues outlined in the rapid appraisal study of Nakamura et al. (2021) are addressed under the FMA. The 1987 Philippines Constitution and existing national laws and policy, including the Fisheries Administrative Order 263 that established and delineated 12 FMAs in Philippine territorial waters, recognize municipal fishers’ tenure and preferential rights over the use of municipal waters, ensure their participation in fisheries management, and promote their representation in institutional arrangements. However, these laws have not yet been fully implemented, which needs to be strengthened. Stronger law enforcement to prevent commercial fishers from encroaching into municipal waters, a clear stance from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources on the presence of commercial fishers in municipal waters, adequate implementation funds, use of clear implementation guidelines in establishing institutional arrangements, and adequate representation of small-scale fishers can help protect fishers’ rights.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
It only lapsed into law without the customary presidential signature.
References
Arcalas JY (2020) DA orders mandatory installation of VMM, ERS to all fishing boats. In: Business Mirror. https://businessmirror.com.ph/2020/10/19/da-orders-mandatory-installation-of-vmm-ers-to-all-fishing-boats/. Accessed 31 Mar 2021
Arcalas JY (2022) Group asks BFAR to rethink ‘unlawful’ fisheries program. In: Business Mirror. https://businessmirror.com.ph/2022/04/27/group-asks-bfar-to-rethink-unlawful-fisheries-program/?fbclid=IwAR14m4podhwBcf4vLLWvMP_YGGGCi8Mj1_XAorA9BiRSnsH3aJG4Jsv_WOk. Accessed 29 Apr 2022
Arcenas A, Capuno J, Ferrer AJ (2010) Forging alliances toward better coastal resource management in The Philippines: the case of Banate Bay. Policy Brief Series 2020:4
Cabico GK (2020a) How coastal towns can feed constituents by helping small-scale fishers. In: Philstar. https://www.philstar.com/nation/2020/04/16/2007734/how-coastal-towns-can-feed-constituents-helping-small-scale-fishers. Accessed 31 Mar 2021
Cabico GK (2020b) Oceana: Commercial fishing boats seen in municipal waters as gov’t preoccupied with COVID-19 fight. In: Philstar. https://www.philstar.com/nation/2020/04/02/2005101/oceana-commercial-fishing-boats-seen-municipal-waters-govt-preoccupied-covid-19-fight. Accessed 31 Mar 2021
Chan G (2010) Critical institutional ingredients. In: Critical ingredients in building and sustaining inter-local cooperation, GTZ, Canadian International Development Agency, European Union, and Philippine Development Forum, Manila, pp 36–65
Clabots BM (2013) Gender dimensions of community-based management of marine protected areas in Siquijor, Philippines. Masters Theis, University of Washington. https://digital.lib.washington.edu/researchworks/bitstream/handle/1773/23502/Clabots_washington_0250O_11904.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y. Accessed 2 Dec 2020
DA-BFAR (2022) In Brief: Philippine IUU Fishing Assessment Report 2021. Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR). Quezon City, Philippines. https://www.bfar.da.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Philippine-IUUF-Assessment-2021.pdf. Accessed 4 Oct 2022
De Guzman AB, Sumalde ZM, Rance GMS, Colance MBD, Ponce MFV (2019) Contribution of gleaning fisheries to food security and nutrition of poor coastal communities in The Philippines. J Environ Sci Manag 1:58–71. https://doi.org/10.47125/jesam/2019_sp1/06
Dela Peña K (2022) Vessel monitoring: Key to the fight vs plunder of PH seas. Inquirer.Net. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1556517/vessel-monitoring-key-to-the-fight-vs-plunder-of-ph-seas#ixzz7TujUWoOS. Accessed 4 May 2022
Eisma-Osorio RV (2010) Critical legal ingredients. In: Critical ingredients in building and sustaining inter-local cooperation, GTZ, Canadian International Development Agency, European Union, and Philippine Development Forum, Manila, pp 22–35
Espectato LN, Serofia GD, Subade RF, Baylon CC (2012) Emerging fisheries co-management arrangement in Panay Gulf, Southern Iloilo, Philippines. Ocean Coast Manag 55:27–35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2011.08.007
Fabro KA (2021) Philippines banks on new fisheries management system, but rollout is rocky. In: Mongabay Series: Oceans. https://news.mongabay.com/2021/07/philippines-banks-on-new-fisheries-management-system-but-rollout-is-rocky/. Accessed 1 Mar 2022
FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) (2015) Voluntary guidelines for securing sustainable small-scale fisheries in the context of food security and poverty eradication. Food Agriculture Organization, Rome, 34pp
Ferrer AJG (2006) The nature and viability of Northern Iloilo alliance for coastal development. Philipp J Soc Sci Humanit X:69–88
Ferrer AJG (2010) Critical financial ingredient. In: Critical ingredients in building and sustaining inter-local cooperation, GTZ, Canadian International Development Agency, European Union, and Philippine Development Forum, Manila, pp 66–76
Ferrer AJG, Perez ML, Roxas AT, Avila EM (2014) Expanding roles of men and women in aquatic agricultural systems in The Philippines. Asian Fish Sci Special Issue 27:166–175
Ferrer AJG, Monteclaro H, Hopanda J (2017a) Economic assessment of bottom trawling in Northern Iloilo. Technical Report submitted to Oceana –Philippines
Ferrer AJG, Ramirez PJ, Monteclaro H, Regalado J, Buendia IL, Zamora G, Napata R, Guzman AM (2017b) Impact assessment of the closed fishing season policy for sardines in the Visayan Sea. Technical report submitted to the Department of Science and Technology- PCAARRD
Ferrer AJG, Garces L, Perez M, Pomeroy R (2018) Inter-local bay alliances in Northern Mindanao, Philippines: experiences and lessons learned in establishment and organisational sustainability. Mar Policy 98:81–88. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2018.05.001
Ferrer AJG, Pomeroy R, Akester MJ, Muawanah U, Chumchuen W, Lee WC, Hai PG, Viswanathan K (2021) COVID-19 and small-scale fisheries in Southeast Asia: impacts and responses. Asian Fish Sci 34:99–100. https://doi.org/10.33997/j.afs.2021.34.1.011
Gay DB, Ramos MN, Ferrer AJG (2023) Value chain of sergestid shrimp (Acetes spp.) caught in Banate Bay, Iloilo Province, Philippines. Maritime Studies. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40152-022-00289-8
Gomez EJ (2021) BFAR urged to lead fight vs HB 7853. In: The Manila Times. https://www.manilatimes.net/2021/04/30/business/business-top/bfar-urged-to-lead-fight-vs-hb-7853/868706. Accessed 2 May 2022
Iguban MMB, Andres JKB, Ferrer AJG (2017) Roles of men and women in Sergestid shrimp (Acetes spp.) value chain in Oton and Tigbauan, Iloilo Province, Philippines. Asian Fisheries Science Special Issue (Gender in Aquaculture and Fisheries: Engendering Security in Fisheries and Aquaculture) 30S:231–244. https://doi.org/10.33997/j.afs.2017.30.S1.012
Kleiber D, Harris LM, Vincent ACJ (2014) Improving fisheries estimates by including women’s catch in the Central Philippines. Can J Fish Aquat Sci 71(5):656–664. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjfas-2013-0177
Mayuga JL (2021) Group joins call to keep commercial fishing vessels out of municipal waters. In: Business Mirror. https://businessmirror.com.ph/2021/02/10/group-joins-call-to-keep-commercial-fishing-vessels-out-of-municipal-waters/. Accessed 2 May 2022
Nakamura J, Chuenpagdee R, El Halimi M (2021) Unpacking legal and policy frameworks: a step ahead for implementing the small-scale fisheries guidelines. Mar Policy 129:1–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2021.104568
Nepomoceno JA (2017) Illegal fishers fall in concepcion, Carles. http://www.iloilo.gov.ph/illegal-fishing/illegal-fishers-fall-concepcion-carles. Accessed 2 Apr 2020
Nepomoceno JA (2018) 86 illegal fishers fall in Concepcion, Carles. http://www.iloilo.gov.ph/anti-illegal-fishing-campaign/86-illegal-fishers-fall-concepcion-carles. Accessed 2 Apr 2020
Nicavera EP (2021) Neg Occ small fishers slam proposed measure favoring commercial fishers. In: Sunstar. https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1885304/bacolod/business/negocc-small-fishers-slam-proposed-measure-favoring-commercial-fishers. Accessed 4 Apr 2022
Novio E (2020) Webinar report: farmers, fisherfolk lament limited aid, logistical challenges brought by COVID19. https://www.greenpeace.org/philippines/story/9589/webinar-report-farmers-fisherfolk-limited-aid-logistical-challenges-covid19/. Accessed 4 Apr 2022
Ocampo K R (2020) Mayors to BFAR: protect our fishing grounds. In: Philippine Daily Inquirer. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1348502/mayors-to-bfar-protect-our-fishing-grounds. Accessed 2 May 2022
Philippine Statistics Authority (2020) OpenStat: agriculture, forestry, fisheries. https://openstat.psa.gov.ph/PXWeb/pxweb/en/DB/DB__2E__FS/?tablelist=true&rxid=bdf9d8da-96f1-4100-ae09-18cb3eaeb313t. Accessed 12 Dec 2020
Pomeroy R, Courtney C (2018) The Philippines context for marine tenure and small-scale fisheries. Mar Policy 95:283–293. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2018.05.030
Quismorio E (2021) Fisherfolk, marine conservationists thumb down move to amend Fisheries Code. In:Manila Bulletin. https://mb.com.ph/2021/02/09/fisherfolk-marine-conservationists-thumb-down-move-to-amend-fisheries-code/?fbclid=IwAR0epq8iRsepF1RtpKEv09O7fV3GjmNer7GqdHb3Dc7IyLLafMAb-A9FYwY. Accessed 31 Mar 2022
Radio Philippines Network (2021) Pagadian: Zamboanga del Norte Coastal LGUs gather for the big-brother small-brother consultative meeting. https://rpnradio.com/pagadian-zamboanga-del-norte-coastal-lgus-gather-for-the-big-brother-small-brother-consultative-meeting/Provincial%20NewsDXKP%20Pagadian%20News. Accessed 22 May 2022
Simeon LM (2020) DA ramps up fisheries plan. In: The Philippine Star. https://www.philstar.com/business/2020/02/07/1990940/da-ramps-fisheries-plan. Accessed 2 May 2022
Sino-Cruz IR (2020) Oceana lauds coastal mayors for campaign vs illegal commercial fishing. https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/303023/oceana-lauds-coastal-mayors-for-campaign-vs-illegal-commercial-fishing. Accessed 31 Mar 2022
Suyo JGB, Altamirano JP (2018) Mapping gendered spaces for sandfish resource management in Guimaras, Philippines. Fish People 16(2):20–25
Torell E, Castro J, Lazarte A, Bilecki D (2021) Analysis of gender roles in Philippine fishing communities. J Int Dev 33:233–255. https://doi.org/10.1002/jid.3520
Acknowledgments
Special thanks to the key informants for this study.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2024 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Ferrer, A.J.G., Eisma-Osorio, RL., Calvan, D., Guidote, M.N. (2024). Securing the Rights of Small-Scale Fishers and Their Communities in the Context of Fisheries Management Areas in the Philippines. In: Nakamura, J., Chuenpagdee, R., Jentoft, S. (eds) Implementation of the Small-Scale Fisheries Guidelines . MARE Publication Series, vol 28. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-56716-2_4
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-56716-2_4
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-031-56715-5
Online ISBN: 978-3-031-56716-2
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)