The Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas criticized the Supreme Court for its decision allowing commercial operations in the municipal waters or seas within a 15-kilometer distance from the shore.

The decision was in response to the petition of Medicar Fishing Corporation to declare as “unconstitutional” the limitation of fishing in municipal waters to small fisherfolk only. The Malabon Regional Court had previously sided with Medicar.

Small fisherfolks are “angry” over this because the voice of big business clearly prevailed in using their traditional fishing grounds, Pamalakaya said.

According to the group, this will adversely affect the two million small fisherfolk nationwide. Small fisherfolk who use traditional and manual fishing methods cannot compete with the advanced and often destructive commercial fishing equipment and technology, it said.

“Commercial fishing vessels have been operating in municipal fishing grounds even before the court’s decision, which is one of the reasons why small fishermen are losing earnings,” Pamalakaya chairman Ronnel Arambulo said. “Because of advanced equipment, large fishing vessels can quickly deplete marine resources compared to small fishermen who have relatively backward equipment.”

“This decision will certainly trigger protests from small fisherfolk, and we will demand recognition of our exclusive rights in municipal fishing grounds,” said Arambulo.

Local officials of a town in the coastal area of Surigao del Norte immediately appealed to reverse the court’s decision. The local government of the town of Del Carmen in the province warned that opening up municipal waters would displace small fisherfolk in their area.

Worse, it will cause hunger for 65% of their population who rely on marine resources for their protein needs. Del Carmen is the largest town on the island of Siargao.