Philippines: Decline of sardines catch in Bicol, Samar at alarming rate

The decline in sardines catch in Bicol and Samar is now at an alarming rate, prompting international organization Oceana to urge the Philippine government to prioritize and hasten the implementation of the National Sardine Management Plan. Oceana recently released the results of its study, “Developing the Sardine Management Plan for Fisheries Management Area 7”, revealing the continuous decline of sardines in Bicol and Samar. The study assessed the conditions of sardine stocks in Fisheries Management Area 7 fishing grounds from February 2020 to March 2021. Dr. Wilfredo Campos of the University of the Philippines – Visayas, who spearheaded the study, has warned of dire consequences because of overfishing in the area. “Many Filipinos depend on sardines not only for food but also for livelihood, making this one of the most important resources in achieving food security in the country. It is therefore imperative that the government safeguards our sardine species that are now on the ...