SC Ruling on municipal waters can have negative impacts on coastal tourism

The Supreme Court ruling allowing commercial fishing inside the 15-kilometer municipal waters is feared to negatively impact the coastal tourism sector in the Philippine.

 Marivic Verdadero Maramot, a SCUBA instructor, underwater photographer and owner of the Batangas SCUBA Academy, said activities such as SCUBA diving, island hopping, snorkeling, kayaking, and other activities will be adversely affected.

 “Coastal tourism has various recreational activities that will be hampered by the decline in marine biodiversity due to increased fishing pressure from commercial fishers within municipal waters. This may cause the destruction of coral reefs and seagrass beds and will result in the decline of marine species and fish population that entice tourists to visit these islands and other coastal areas. We are afraid we will have fewer visitors and lower revenue from tourism activities,” said Maramot.

 SCUBA diving hotspots, known for their diverse marine life, are especially at risk. As commercial fishing expands into these areas, the delicate balance of marine ecosystems could be disrupted.

 “Divers and other tourists frequently look for spots rich in fish and coral reefs. The potential depletion of these resources could discourage them to dive and affect local dive shops and operators that depend on healthy marine environments,” Jeru Pakingan Cajapin of Dive Plan Ph explained.

Cajapin added that the Philippines has consistently ranked among the top SCUBA diving destinations in the world and commercial fishing can possibly jeopardize that distinction if our dive sites get depleted and destroyed.

 Island hopping tours, a staple of Philippine tourism, are feared to encounter similar challenges. Many popular islands are within municipal waters. “Tour operators may need to modify their itineraries or explore alternative locations, potentially increasing operational costs and driving away tourists,” said Cajapin.

 As commercial fishing expands, larger vessels could interfere with boating, kayaking and other activities in coastal waters and may have safety concerns for smaller watercraft.

 Scott “Gutsy” Tuason a renowned underwater photographer and an expert blackwater photographer (underwater photography conducted in the open sea at night to document rare and unusual marine life) expressed concern over the ruling.

 “I can’t imagine diving at night out in the open sea and being at risk of being ran over by commercial fishing vessels. Aside from that, their strong lights would compete with our lights that attract marine life from the depths. The government should really look into this decision as the standing of the Philippines as a world class diving destination, be it in the shallow water where coral reefs are or out in the open sea where we conduct blackwater underwater photography,” Tuason said.

 Environmental advocates caution that the ruling could harm marine resources vital for both local communities and tourism. Oceana Acting Vice President, Atty. Rose-Liza Eisma-Osorio emphasizes that sustainable management of coastal areas is essential for preserving the health of ecosystems that draw visitors from around the globe.

 “The voice of the coastal tourism sector is important. Their concerns that allowing commercial operators inside municipal waters could negatively impact the economic landscape for small-scale fishers and coastal tourism operators, should not be ignored,” she added.

 In January, Oceana and several other petitioners, including the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice, the municipality of Santa Fe in Bantayan Island, Cebu, and four fisherfolk, filed a petition for intervention. The petition aimed to reverse the Supreme Court ruling from August 19, 2024, and to remand the case to the RTC so that the petitioners could be included as indispensable parties. 

 The Department of Agriculture (DA) – Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources submitted a motion for reconsideration to the Supreme Court, highlighting the importance of protecting small-scale fishers and preserving marine ecosystems. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. pointed out that coral reefs, particularly those in shallow to mid-depth waters are at risk and marine resources could face further depletion. (END)

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