The number of commercial vessels fishing in municipal waters across different parts of the Philippines has gone down, but only a mere decline of 4.7 percent despite the pandemic, international marine conservation group Oceana observed.
Data released by Oceana showed commercial fishing in municipal waters pervades from 44,952 vessels in 2019 to 42,934 vessels in 2020 despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Oceana reports the seemingly continuing intrusion of commercial fishing vessels in the designated 15-kilometer from the shoreline municipal waters that is exclusive to municipal and artisanal fisherfolk, as prescribed by the Amended Fisheries Code or RA 10654,” Oceana said.
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https://mb.com.ph/2021/09/26/commercial-vessels-continue-to-fish-illegally-in-ph-waters-report/