In a bold move to protect local marine ecosystems and the livelihoods of small-scale fishermen, the Visayas State University (VSU) satellite campus in Tolosa, Leyte, has publicly opposed a recent Supreme Court decision. The ruling allows commercial fishing vessels to operate within the 15-kilometer municipal waters, a zone traditionally reserved for smaller, local fishers. The university’s Faculty of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences expressed deep concerns over the potential devastation to coastal ecosystems and the communities reliant on these resources.
VSU’s statement, released on their official Facebook page, calls for the preservation of the existing regulations under the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998, as amended by RA 10654. These laws prohibit commercial fishing vessels from entering municipal waters, a measure aimed at preventing overfishing and protecting marine life. The university warns that allowing commercial fishing in these areas would not only increase pressure on already strained marine ecosystems but also threaten the livelihoods of small-scale fishers who depend on these waters for their daily sustenance.
The school highlighted the use of active fishing gears by commercial fishers, such as trawl, Danish seine, purse seine, and ring net, which are known for their efficiency but also for their detrimental environmental impacts. VSU emphasized that the entry of commercial vessels could have a ripple effect, impacting all stakeholders in the fishing industry.
This stance by VSU aligns with efforts by the Department of Agriculture and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, who last month sought to reverse the Supreme Court’s decision. The controversy stems from a ruling that upheld a decision by the Malabon Regional Trial Court, allowing Mercidar Fishing Corp. to operate in municipal waters.
Established in 1971, the VSU-Tolosa Campus, formerly known as Daniel Z. Romualdez Memorial School of Fisheries, plays a crucial role in the socio-economic development of the region through its focus on fishery education, research, and resource management.