A National Unity Party (NUP) lawmaker has proposed the establishment of marine protected areas in all coastal cities and towns in the Philippines to help guarantee the country’s food security, ensure the sustainable growth of its marine resources and protect the livelihood of small fisherfolk.
Representative Benhur Salimbangon (4th district, Cebu) said he has filed House Bill 2631, which makes it mandatory for all coastal local government units (LGUs) to set up marine sanctuaries, to heighten awareness over “the urgent need to preserve our marine resources and give it some breathing spell.”
He noted that the Philippines, which has over 7,000 islands, is spread over 2,650 kilometers with oceans that are abundant with fish and other marine resources.
However, several factors such as climate change, siltation, bad agricultural practices, coastal land development, industrial pollution, destructive fishing methods, overfishing, gleaning and extractive activities such as aquarium fishing, mariculture and coral extraction now pose a grave threat on the country’s marine ecosystem, Salimbangon said.
These negative factors have led to a decline in marine resources even while the country’s population continues to grow at a pace faster than its Southeast Asian neighbors.
“If this persists, food security, ecological sustainability and the livelihood for the small and marginalized fisherfolk will be in danger of extinction,” Salimbangon said.
HB 2631 will require coastal municipalities to establish, maintain and manage at least one marine protected area (MPA) covering a minimum of 10 hectares.
Under Salimbangon’s proposed law, setting up an MPA will be based on the integrated community-based conservation program and coastal resource management plan of the LGU.
The legislator stressed, though, that the formation of an MPA should not violate the rights of fisherfolk, unless the marine resources in the LGU concerned are in a condition that requires immediate rehabilitation.
Salimbangon said the Department of Agriculture and its Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Councils of the the LGUs and the private sector will be responsible for the implementation of the bill if becomes a law.