No public official, not even the President, has the authority to grant foreigners fishing rights in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, the Supreme Court ruled on Monday. The SC’s decision came in response to a petition filed by the National Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Authority (NFARA) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) against the Aquino administration’s plan to allow foreign fishing vessels to fish within the EEZ from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2017.
The petitioners argued that the plan violates the provisions of the Philippine Constitution, which prohibits the granting of any rights or privileges to non-Filipino citizens or permanent residents, except for the right to fishing in national parks and marine conservation areas, as well as the rights of Filipinos to live in peace and quiet in their ancestral homelands, and to enjoy the natural resources of their land and waters.
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Is fishing allowed in the Philippines?
The Philippines, with its rich marine resources, is just one of many countries dealing with illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. It is illegal in most countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and the Philippines.
The catch and release of fish and other marine life is not regulated by any government agency or international organization. In fact, it is estimated that up to 90 percent of all fish caught in international waters are not legally caught or caught illegally.
What Ra is illegal fishing in the Philippines?
An act to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, amending the republic act no. 8550. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in Congress assembled, That this Act shall take effect on the date of its enactment and shall be in full force and effect from and after that date.
What are the fishery laws in the Philippines?
It is against the law for a person to fish in the high seas, in the territorial seas, archipelagic waters, and Exclusive Economic Zones of other states using a Philippine flagged fishing vessel.
Where is the best fishing in Philippines?
One of the most popular bass fishing spots in the country is the lake caliraya in laguna. Caliraya is a man-made lake created in 1939 and is home to a number of resorts and vacation homes that tourists can enjoy. The lake is also a popular fishing spot for anglers from all over the world.
How is fishing in the Philippines?
Over a million Filipinos are engaged in marine fishing. An estimated 800,000 small-scale fishermen are using tradition, low-cost techniques, notably net fishing from small boats and the fish corral. The Philippines is the world’s largest producer and exporter of fish.
It is also one of the largest importers of seafood, accounting for more than half of all seafood imports in the country. In 2013, the Philippines imported more seafood than any other country, including China, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia.
Can you fish in Manila Bay?
The map is based on data from the Philippine Fisheries Agency (PFA) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) (www.fisheries.gov.ph). Click on the image for a larger version. Standard image High-resolution image Export PowerPoint slide Figure 2 shows the distribution of fish caught by different fishing methods. In fact, the average catch per square kilometer is higher than that of any other country in Southeast Asia.
How do I report illegal fishing in the Philippines?
USAID also supports the Philippine National Police Maritime Group in implementing an anonymous hotline that allows local communities to report illegal fishing. Local government and maritime police use the hotline 700DALOY to find illegal fishing and help protect the country’s marine resources.
The Philippines is also working with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to improve the capacity of the Philippines’ refugee resettlement program. UNHCR and IOM are working to increase the number of refugees resettled in the Southeast Asian country, which is currently home to more than 1.2 million refugees.