After two months of lockdown, the Philippines government finally recognized artisanal fisherfolk as “essential personnel” and allowed them access to the sea at any time of the day. By then the monsoon had arrived and the risk of accidents for the small boats of artisanal fishermen was high. The inclement weather also drove away fish stocks.
Artisanal fishermen — those who use fishing boats weighing less than 3.1 gross tons — are among the country’s marginalized. They typically live below the poverty line, have five to 13 children while supporting an extended family, and are buried in debt, based on community assessments by Rare Philippines, a marine conservation NGO.
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https://pcij.org/article/6778/philippine-fishermen-cry-help-illegal-fishing-empties-municipal-waters