In the marine life-rich province of Negros Occidental, small fisherfolk rely on their daily catch to survive. For years, municipal waters and their fish stocks were managed sustainably, until the soothing crash of waves became screeching rather than calming. The tides have turned along the shores of Western Visayas, where the distant silhouettes of large fishing vessels cast shadows of disruption and unease.

It was once the sea breeze that fishermen first sensed at dawn, until it became a gust of greed. It used to be birdsongs that greeted them at sunrise, until it was drowned out by the clink-clank of machines releasing massive nets. Today, more than 45,000 fisherfolk still fear losing their livelihoods after a Supreme Court ruling in late 2024 opened the 15-kilometer municipal waters, once reserved for small-scale fishers, to commercial fishing operations. 

The Supreme Court’s decision allows high-profit fishing firms to operate in areas where low-income fishermen make a living, threatening not only their already meager earnings but also the abundant fisheries they’ve sustained for generations. This doesn’t absolve coastal municipalities along Guimaras Strait, Panay Gulf, and Visayan Sea, which are “already frequented by commercial fishing vessels,” even before the Court ruling, according to a statement by the fishers group Pamalakaya-Panay.

'Aton ang Kinse' network stages a protest in an effort to reverse the SC ruling. (Photos courtesy of Pamalakaya Pilipinas)

Commercial fishing vessels, the group explained, often employ “illegal methods of fishing such as trawl (industrial fishing using huge nets to catch fish and shellfish) and purse seine (commercial fishers using large nets to target tuna and mackerel).” These practices harm marine ecosystems and jeopardize local livelihoods. 

If the ruling takes effect, more than 15,000 small fishers in Guimaras Island’s five coastal municipalities, as well as those from 19 municipalities in Panay island, will lose their municipal waters to commercial fishing.

In turn, support from various organizations and officials has surged in an effort to reverse the ruling.

Surge of support for small fisherfolk

A recent gathering organized by the “Aton ang Kinse Kilometro” network, composed of fisherfolk, students, and environmentalists from Western Visayas and Negros Island called for the reversal of the Supreme Court ruling on municipal waters.  United in their cause to shield the 15-kilometer coastal zone from the encroachment, participants raised signages, banners, and fists in a spirited appeal to government and business sectors to respect the rights of small-scale fishers and coastal communities. 

Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson also appealed to the national government to represent small fishermen.

“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," he said in a statement.

According to the Provincial Environment and Management Office, letting commercial fishers within the municipal waters is a serious concern for our local government, fisherfolk, and coastal communities, as it threatens decades of efforts in sustainable fisheries management.

Meanwhile, Pamalakaya convened 150 fishermen at UP Visayas in March to push for the reversal of the SC decision.  

The coalition behind "Aton ang Kinse Kilometro,” spearheaded by Pamalakaya vice chairperson Ronnel Arambulo, aims to uphold fishing rights through protests, dialogues, lobbying, and stakeholder engagement.

Fueling the fight of Filipino fishers, fisherfolk alliance Pangisda Pilipinas marched to the SC in February to condemn its ruling on commercial fishing.

Fishermen protested through chants and placards, expressing, "Para sa tao, hindi sa negosyo (For the people, not business)," "Proteksyon sa mangigisda hindi interes ng kapitalista (Fishermen protection is not an interest of capitalists)," and “Stop illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.”

Pamalakaya holds a gathering to mark the National Fisherfolk Day.

In January, Pamalakaya staged a protest in front of the Department of Agriculture, expressing dismay over the agency’s failure to back the preferential rights of small-scale fishers to traditional fishing zones, a silence that, they said, makes it seem like the agency supports the decision.