Overfishing in the Philippines
Overfishing (verb): the removal of a species of fish from a body of water at a rate that the species cannot replenish, resulting in those species becoming underpopulated in that area.
Fish sales at a local market // A worker adjusting a fishing net
The coasts along the Philippines were once home to ye. numerous fish species that offered multiple benefits for both the environment and the natives who lived there.
Today, these same fish species are threatened to extinction due to the uncontrollable and unsustainable overfishing practices used.
Today, seafood comprises more than half of Filipinos' primary protein source at every meal. This heavy demand contributes to the ongoing overfishing issues through fishery companies.
In total, these fisheries catch more than 2 million metrics tons of fish annually. Nearly 75% of these Philippine fishing ports and areas are overfished.
The Largest Fish Port in the Philippines: Navotas Fish Port Complex
Fish Production Methods & Breakdown
Philippine Fisheries: The Benefits
Labor & Employment:
- Fisheries offer numerous employment opportunities for the local community
- About 1,614,000 fishers are involved in Philippine fisheries (from 2014 data)
- Municipal fishing: 68% of the total employment, aquaculture: 26%, and commercial fishing: 6%
- More employment in these fisheries contributes to stronger economic growth, trading, and services
Economy:
- The Philippines is one of the top fish producing countries in the world
- Fisheries contributed near 4.33 billion dollars to the countries economy (from 2015 data)
- The top exported commodities weighed in at a volume around 171,452 tons, valuing at about US$ 429 million
The Philippine fisheries offer numerous benefits for the economy and locals living in the area. However, fisheries also negatively impact the ecosystem and fish populations as well.
Although overfishing throughout the Philippine Islands continually escalates, new implementations and regulations could potentially help decrease this issue of unsustainable fishing and overfishing.
The Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998
This code encourages and enforces fisheries to prevent, deter, and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. However, overfishing still remains a big threat.
With more regulations such as this, overfishing and other unsustainable fishing methods can become greatly diminished.
Education on overfishing is the first step in reducing the issue. This will allow future generations to understand and conserve the Philippine Islands' ecosystems and prevent this devastating, unsustainable fishing method.
URLS:
http://www.fao.org/fishery/facp/PHL/en
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2020.00232/full#:~:text=The%20fisheries%20in%20the%20Philippines,2015%20(BFAR%2C%202016)
