Negros Occidental gov joins call vs entry of commercial fishers in municipal waters
BACOLOD CITY—Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson has joined local officials and fishers groups in the country who have expressed dismay over a Supreme Court (SC) ruling that allowed commercial fishing vessels to operate in municipal waters.
In a statement released on Feb. 21, the governor said the decision threatened livelihoods, marine biodiversity, and decades of efforts in sustainable fisheries management.
“It is a serious concern for our local government, fisherfolk, and coastal communities,” he said.
“We call on all stakeholders – government agencies, academe, civil society, and the public – to stand with us in safeguarding the welfare of our artisanal fishers and ensuring the sustainability of our coastal and marine ecosystems,” he added.
The Negros Occidental provincial government was the second province in the Visayas to express concern over the Dec. 19, 2024 decision of the Supreme Court that removed the 15-kilometer municipal water demarcation, which had prioritized municipal fishers and regulated commercial fishing operations within those waters.
Vital income source
The Iloilo provincial government, through provincial agriculturist Dr. Ildefonso Toledo, earlier revealed it was compiling position papers from 19 coastal municipalities in the province, fishers groups, and other stakeholders to formally oppose the high court’s decision.
He warned that the ruling could devastate local fishing communities and emphasized the need for a collective stand against it.
Lacson also stressed the need to protect the rights of municipal fisherfolk by advocating for the continued preferential access of small-scale fishers to the 15-kilometer municipal waters.
These waters, he said, are vital for the livelihoods of more than 45,000 marginalized fishing communities with 472 fisherfolk associations in the 25 coastal cities and municipalities of Negros Occidental covering 187 barangays, ensuring food security, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable fisheries management.
He said the provincial government, together with its coastal local governments and partner organizations, stand in solidarity with the more than two million small-scale fishers in their invaluable role in marine conservation and local economies.
“Let us work together to uphold policies that protect our fisheries and secure the future of our coastal communities,” Lacson said.
Since the establishment of the Integrated Coastal Resource Management Programs, Lacson said they have witnessed firsthand the resilience of fisherfolk in the face of environmental and socioeconomic challenges.
“Through continuous education, livelihood support, and conservation initiatives, we have empowered local fishing communities to transition into responsible stewards of our marine ecosystems,” he said.
However, Lacson said small-scale fishers remain among the most vulnerable sectors in the country, facing threats such as climate change, illegal fishing, and limited economic opportunities.
“As these challenges persist, we must uphold their preferential rights to municipal waters, allowing them to sustain their livelihoods while contributing to the nation’s food security,” he said.
