Oceana has called on the Philippine government to swiftly implement the National Sardine Management Plan after a study showed a dramatic decline in sardine populations in Bicol and Samar. The study, conducted from February 2020 to March 2021, documented overfishing and the adverse effects of environmental changes on the sardine resource. The National Sardine Management Plan, endorsed in 2020, aims to sustain fish stocks and balance benefits for sardine fisheries. Urgent measures, such as regulating fishing activities and implementing size limits, are necessary to prevent further deterioration, according to the study's lead researcher, Dr. Wilfredo Campos.