Leaders of fisherfolk and Marine conservation groups yesterday urged President-elect Rodrigo Duterte to end crimes happening at sea and in coastal communities.
In a statement, the groups also called for the creation of a separate Department of Oceans and Fisheries to be able to better plan, monitor and implement reforms and contribute towards food security.
“We are here to request a dialogue and to remind incoming President Duterte of his campaign promise to address fishers’ and marine issues, and to end very high poverty incidence among people directly relying on seas for food and for a living. His administration will play a critical role in the country’s transition to sustainable fishing,” said Greenpeace Philippines oceans campaigner Vince Cinches.
“We expect nothing less than strong, resolute implementation of the amended fisheries law against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUUF). Doing less is a disservice to millions of Filipinos who have been clamoring for change,” Cinches added.
The groups said that latest data from the Philippine Statistics showed that the poverty incidence among fisherfolk reached 39.2 percent in 2012, the highest among the basic sectors of society, followed by farmers at 38.3 percent, and children at 35.2 percent.
“Coherent and holistic programs should especially be quickly put in place that recognize our vulnerability to climate change. We need focused and sustained efforts in combatting crimes against the oceans and to allow a better playing field for our small fishers and fishing communities,” said Dennis Calvan, executive director of the NGOs for Fisheries Reform.
“We strongly urge the incoming administration to target an end to illegal fishing within their first six months of office,” added Calvan.
During the election campaign period, fishers, marine conservationists and environmental groups pushed for the 10-Point Blue Agenda to be taken up by the presidential candidates. This include the delineation of municipal waters, the implementation of traceability mechanisms for fishery products, sustainable fishing, and capacity-building for fisherfolk to better adapt to climate change.
“We call on the new administration to immediately address the crime of illegal fishing and start rehabilitating our overfished waters. We look forward to seeing political will in the new government’s campaign against crime to include its focus on prosecuting plunderers of our oceans, to protect the people’s right to healthy marine ecosystems and ensure food security for all Filipinos,” said Atty. Gloria Estenzo Ramos, vice president of Oceana Philippines.