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Campaigners march in Manila in bid to save seas

Philippines president urged to address overfishing and marine pollution
Campaigners march in Manila in bid to save seas

International and local campaign groups joined forces for the first time on addressing deteriorating seas (photo by Jimmy Domingo)

Published: May 30, 2014 09:48 AM GMT
Updated: May 29, 2014 11:01 PM GMT

A colorful procession of 1,000 activists marched to the presidential palace in Manila on Friday to deliver a blueprint on how the country could protect its seas from overfishing and lift fishing communities out of poverty.    

Protesters dressed in sea creature costumes rallied outside the office of President Benigno Aquino to deliver their ‘Roadmap to Recovery for Philippine Oceans’ – the first time international and local NGOs have teamed up on policy recommendations – on the eve of National Fisherfolks’ Day.

"Government must also establish a network of marine reserves large enough that will protect our marine ecosystems from current and future threats, including climate change," said Vince Cinches, Greenpeace Southeast Asia oceans campaigner.

Groups also including the Worldwide Fund for Nature and Save Philippines Sea have urged Aquino to convene a crisis team to address deteriorating seas caused by pollution and overfishing that has left traditional fishing communities struggling to survive.

Other recommendations included stricter enforcement of marine boundaries and capacity-building for local governments to protect marine resources.

"Government must also establish a network of marine reserves large enough that will protect our marine ecosystems from current and future threats, including climate change," Cinches said.

Ten out of 13 of the country’s fishing grounds have already been depleted “and yet government has not done anything despite existing laws," said Dennis Calvan, executive director of the group, NGOs for Fisheries Report. 

Compared to the 1960s, only 10 percent of fish populations in the country remain, said Pablo Rosales, chairman of fishing community group Pangisda Pilipinas.

"This has a direct impact on fisherfolk who are left with lower incomes but incur more costs and risks when they travel greater distances to catch fish," he said.

Data from the government's National Statistical Coordination Board show that the fishing sector remains the most marginalized sector, with a poverty incidence of 41.4 percent.

"It’s no surprise that our numbers are dwindling. If nothing is done to reverse the fish decline, there won’t be fisherfolk left in 10 to 20 years," said Rosales.

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