In the Philippines, known as the “Centre of Marine Biodiversity,” human activities are negatively impacting its rich marine biodiversity. Without intervention from authorities, this valuable asset may become a burden rather than a cause for celebration. This study evaluates the effectiveness and enforcement of government laws in preserving marine biodiversity by identifying four main issues related to its preservation.
The Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (2004) highlights that the marine biodiversity in the country faces numerous threats. These threats include overfishing, pollution, deforestation, and global climate change. Overfishing specifically refers to the excessive extraction of marine living resources, leading to resource depletion and putting endangered species at risk of extinction.
According to Jennings, S. and Kaiser, M. J. (1998), the overexploitation of marine living resources is caused by the rapid growth in human population as they attempt to satisfy the increasing demand for food. If fishing activities are not sustainable and benign, they can result in the overexploitation of marine living resources, which negatively affects overall marine biodiversity. The target species are particularly vulnerable to these consequences.
Pollution in marine biodiversity occurs when man introduces substances or energy, which can harm human health, living resources, and ecosystems. In the Philippines, approximately 10% of sewage undergoes proper treatment or disposal; however, the majority is released into nature, particularly the sea. The country’s groundwater, rivers, lakes, and coastal areas face a significant water pollution challenge due to insufficient waste treatment and a rapidly growing population.
Industrial materials left behind in abandoned mining areas are causing pollution, specifically mercury pollution that is impacting the water bodies in this region. The problems are exacerbated by inadequate planning, poor management, and a lack of enforcement of regulations. Furthermore, deforestation has been an ongoing issue for many years, resulting in only 3% of the original forest cover remaining. Forests face continuous threats from agriculture, urbanization, illegal logging, and forest fires. These factors contribute to significant soil erosion and put the Philippines’ diverse range of plant and animal species at risk.
The situation is concerning because numerous species in the Philippines rely on these forests and can only be found there. Among the 180 native terrestrial mammal species in the country, approximately 61% are only found there. Issues such as inconsistent laws, insufficient regulations, ineffective enforcement, and lack of funding present significant obstacles to forest conservation. Global climate change also poses challenges to preserving marine biodiversity.
Marine life is greatly affected by global climate change, particularly through the visually striking occurrence of coral bleaching. This phenomenon happens due to higher water temperatures and can ultimately cause the death of corals. Moreover, rising temperatures disrupt the survival of different marine species that depend on specific temperature ranges, forcing them to either migrate or face sudden death. In addition, increasing sea levels pose significant threats to marine ecosystems.
The growth of offshore plants and algae, which depend on photosynthesis, can be impacted by the reduction in light reaching them. Furthermore, fish, squid, and other gilled marine animals may face challenges as ocean acidity rises and extracting dissolved oxygen becomes more difficult. Additionally, constructing calcium carbonate shells could become problematic for shellfish, crabs, lobsters, and corals.
Despite the Philippines’ reputation for having robust legislation to safeguard Marine Biodiversity, it is disheartening to discover that not all of these laws are adequately enforced. According to Personal Communication (June 1, 2012), the government’s attempts to protect marine life have been insufficient. As a result, there continues to be a disregard for these laws as offenders persist in their actions despite being instructed by the government to stop.
The Government has enacted several laws that are considered sufficient, but there is a need for stronger enforcement and appropriate penalties for lawbreakers. Two important acts, R.A. 8550 or “AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT, MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION OF THE FISHERIES AND AQUATIC RESOURCES, INTEGRATING ALL LAWS PERTINENT THERETO, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES”, and R.A. 9147 or the “WILDLIFE RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND PROTECTION ACT: ENSURING ECOLOGICAL SUSTAINABILITY”, play a crucial role in safeguarding marine biodiversity.
Both resources emphasize the significance of protecting marine biodiversity and implementing conservation strategies. Republic Act 8550 prioritizes food security by focusing on the utilization, management, protection, and preservation of aquatic resources to meet the needs of the population. Additionally, this legislation restricts foreign involvement in safeguarding the country’s marine biodiversity in order to optimize its potential and fulfill national obligations.
This law provides protection for fishermen, particularly those living in local communities. It prioritizes municipal fishermen in the use of municipal waters. Additionally, the law supports the fishery sector and provides financial assistance to aspiring fishermen. It also safeguards the rights of fishermen and manages aquatic resources to ensure their sustainability.
The purpose of this Law is to effectively utilize offshore and deep-sea resources, enhance post-harvest technology, improve ecological-based aquaculture, alleviate poverty, provide additional livelihood opportunities for fishermen, and conserve, protect, and sustainably manage the marine biodiversity and aquatic resources of the country.
This law is being applied in all Philippine Waters, including other waters over which the country has sovereignty and jurisdiction, together with the 200 nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). It also applies to all aquatic resources, whether inland, offshore, or coastal fishing areas, including fish pens/cages and fish ponds. Furthermore, the law is applied to all lands, whether public or private, dedicated to aquaculture, business, and any activities related to fisheries, regardless of their ownership.
Only Filipinos are allowed to utilize and exploit fishery and aquatic resources in the Philippines. However, research and survey activities may be authorized under strict regulations that also benefit Filipino citizens. The Department will grant licenses and permits for the exploitation and utilization of resources in Philippine waters. For study and research purposes, multiple permits and licenses will be issued by the department, considering the maximum sustainable yield (MSY) determined through scientific or best available studies.
The Secretary has the power to establish the limit or quota for fishing in a specific area and time, based on the most reliable information. The Department can also designate closed seasons and take actions to protect and restore rare, endangered, and threatened species as determined by the Department. Furthermore, existing laws in collaboration with relevant government agencies prohibit fishing and capturing rare, endangered, and threatened species, including their eggs and offspring.
The Government will create a monitoring, control, and surveillance system in collaboration with its departments and agencies. This system aims to promote sustainability and conservation of fisheries and aquatic resources in Philippine waters specifically for Filipino citizens. Additionally, the Law establishes a national infrastructure unit equipped with advanced technology and modern scientific equipment to facilitate and monitor aquatic resources in the Philippine Sea.
To engage in fishing activities in Philippine waters, a valid license, lease, or permit is required. This rule pertains to the capturing of fish of any size, including fingerlings, and participating in all fishing activities. If the captain or three highest-ranking officers of a commercial fishing boat violate this law, they will face punishment such as a fine equal to the value of their catch or ten thousand pesos (whichever is greater), imprisonment for approximately six months, confiscation of their catch and fishing equipment, and revocation of their license. It is strictly prohibited to participate in any commercial fishing activity within municipal waters without being registered in the municipal fisherfolk registry.
The Government has implemented various programs, including Executive Order no 578, to protect the Marine Biodiversity of this country. Municipal fisherfolk who violate this law will face a five hundred pesos fine and have their catch confiscated. On the other hand, foreign fishing vessels that violate this law will be fined one hundred thousand U.S. Dollars and have their catch, fishing equipment, and fishing vessel confiscated as well.
This order emphasizes the importance of implementing laws nationwide, especially in the Sulu Sulawesi Marine Ecosystem and the Verde Island passage marine corridor. It recognizes that marine biodiversity is crucial for sustaining life and creating a healthy environment for humans. Being one of the 18 mega biodiversity countries, the Philippines possesses abundant terrestrial and marine biodiversity.
This program emphasizes that the responsibility for safeguarding marine biodiversity rests with both Government officials and the public. It identifies priority areas and endangered species that require strict protection. The law specifically targets the marine biodiversity in Sulu. The Government officials have established guidelines for fishermen and civilians to protect marine life, provided funding to support fishermen’s livelihoods, and educated them on preserving marine biodiversity.
Different private sectors are launching various programs to contribute to environmental conservation in the Philippines. One such initiative is the “Run for ilog Pasig” organized by ABS-CBN Foundation’s Kapit Bisig on November 20, 2011. This event offers three categories of races: 3km, 5km, and 10km. Its primary objective is to raise funds for the restoration and cleaning of Pasig River while simultaneously aiming to set a new world record for hosting the largest eco-foot race.
The foundation has devised a comprehensive plan with specific targets for each year between 2012 and 2016 to systematically clean the river. Furthermore, SM malls’ Green Movement advocates for using paper bags instead of plastic bags to minimize waste production. Notably, the trash collected from Pasig River is ingeniously transformed into tiles that are utilized in constructing sidewalks in Rizal and Quezon City, effectively demonstrating the success of this program.
Preserving marine biodiversity not only provides Filipinos with an abundant selection of fishery products but also contributes to reducing respiratory ailments due to improved preservation of aquatic resources.
Preserving Marine Biodiversity offers several advantages. Firstly, it allows the public to freely select their desired fish to consume, enabling them to enjoy a different fish every day and have a wide range of fish options. However, when the diversity of fish decreases, it negatively impacts the livelihoods of Fishermen as their source of income diminishes. This scenario leads to increased poverty in the country and affects numerous families. Secondly, the protection of Marine Biodiversity is crucial for the public’s respiratory system. Approximately 50 percent of oxygen is derived from the Sea and Ocean.
The public requires Oxygen to survive. If the supply of Oxygen decreases, citizens will struggle to breathe and their activities will be affected, potentially leading to death. By safeguarding and conserving Marine Biodiversity, a country can ensure an abundant supply of Oxygen that meets the needs of its residents. Preserving Marine Biodiversity also plays a crucial part in addressing climate change. Seaweeds and Climate change have a mutually influential relationship.
Seaweeds can affect Climate change by acting as a sink for Carbon dioxide, which helps counter the accumulation of greenhouse gases. Conversely, Climate change can impact Seaweeds by shifting the geographic boundaries of certain species due to rising temperatures in the Oceanic waters. An essential aspect of this interaction is the capability of algae to serve as indicators of climate change. Using algae as markers has proven to be and will undoubtedly remain crucial for comprehending and gathering details about climate change.
Algae play a crucial role in assessing climate as they inhabit aquatic environments, which are highly responsive to changes caused by increasing ocean temperatures or glacial melt runoff. Algae also occupy a significant position as the foundation of food webs in these environments. Thus, any environmental changes are first noticeable in algae. Furthermore, algae exhibit rapid responses and operate within narrow limitation boundaries, making them highly sensitive organisms in assessing short-term environmental changes.
According to Mr Smol and Cuming(2000), the location of algae is crucial in predicting climate. Algae found in high arctic regions are particularly significant as these areas are highly vulnerable to global warming and any changes can have far-reaching consequences. The authors suggest that a worldwide network of paleoclimatological studies on fossilized algae in lakes would be incredibly beneficial in comprehending climate change. This is because lakes exist on every continent and can provide precise data about past climatic events.
It is evident why fresh water algae are utilized as climate change indicators. Although this country has numerous laws regarding marine life protection, the government struggles to effectively enforce them. The lack of manpower and necessary technology hinders their ability to patrol Philippine bodies of water. Moreover, inadequate sanctions for violators allows them to repeat their actions with impunity, knowing the penalties are not severe and officials can be bribed for leniency.
For instance, last month in the Scarborough shoal, the smugglers were apprehended for catching numerous Chinese fishermen who were illegally collecting endangered species in the shoal. Although the officials warned them to cease their activities, the fishermen were released after a few days. However, the officials confiscated the species. Nonetheless, the actions taken by the government officials are insufficient because according to the law, if a foreign fisherman trespasses the boundaries of this country and engages in any marine activities, they shall be imprisoned for a minimum of six months. Additionally, the fishermen will be required to pay a fine no less than one hundred thousand US dollars.
The lack of effectiveness in implementing and enforcing penalties for violators leads to more citizens disregarding the laws, as they are aware that the consequences are not severe. To address this issue, the country requires more effective laws rather than simply adding more legislation on Marine Biodiversity preservation. The Government must prioritize the effectiveness of each implemented law.
As a Citizen of this Country, it is important to limit the usage of plastic bags due to their long decay process of millions of years. Moreover, burning plastic bags can harm the Ozone layer, ultimately affecting the well-being of the public. By opting for alternatives such as hand carry bags like bayong or paper bags while shopping in malls or wet markets, the excessive use of plastic bags can be reduced. This will allow the government to concentrate on restoring bodies of water and implementing laws more efficiently.
