Addressing illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing in the Philippines

The problem of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) Fishing is an increasing concern in the Philippines, resulting in an economic loss of about US$1 billion annually. Illegal fishing in the country includes unsustainable fishing practices, poaching by foreign vessels, and transshipment of illegally caught fish. Unregulated fishing is composed of unmanaged fisheries within its jurisdiction and unregulated fishing of unregistered Filipino vessels in areas under the jurisdiction of other states. While catches resulting from these activities are unreported, there are instances when catches are deliberately misreported. IUU fishing has negative impacts, not only on the sustainability of fisheries resources in the Philippines, but also on its marine biodiversity and environment. Although the Philippines has yet to implement the International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter, and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing, it has adopted some of the most important flag and coastal state measures in its fisheries laws and regulations to address IUU fishing problems. These measures include the implementation of international fisheries-related instruments, registration of fishing vessels, maintenance of fishing records, issuance of authorizations to fish, application of sanctions, implementation of a monitoring, control, and surveillance (MCS) system, and cooperation with other states. However, IUU fishing in the Philippines continues to proliferate due to the inadequacy of the fisheries legislation, lack of enforcement of fisheries regulations, and lack of capacity to implement an effective MCS system. The Philippines should therefore review and strengthen its flag state and coastal state responsibilities and adopt applicable port state measures to effectively address IUU fishing concerns. Such measures can be introduced either as amendment to its fisheries law and regulations or adopted in a national plan of action to combat IUU fishing in the Philippines.