Around 300 fisherfolk and youth gathered at the UP Diliman Sunken Garden to form a human banner shaped like the number 15, symbolizing the 15-kilometer municipal waters zone reserved by law for small-scale fishers.

MANILA — “Para sa tao, hindi sa negosyo!”

Around 300 fisherfolk and youth gathered at the UP Diliman Sunken Garden to form a human banner shaped like the number 15, symbolizing the 15-kilometer municipal waters zone reserved by law for small-scale fishers.

The action highlights the continuing struggle of municipal fishers to defend their exclusive rights to these waters, which are currently being challenged by commercial fishing interests, along with the lack of governmental assistance for fishers amidst a fuel crisis.

Organized by OCEANA Philippines, a ten thousand-strong fisherfolk rights alliance, and other non-government organizations, the event also featured testimonials and community sharing sessions between fishers and youth. The activity was held in observance of World Ocean Day today and National Fisherfolk Day last May 31, drawing attention to the vital role fisherfolk play in the country’s food security and marine resource conservation.

Photos and text by Jonah Kayguan

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