It is only four o’clock in the morning, yet Mang Jose has returned from the sea without any fish. His wife, waiting at the front door, feels a sense of sorrow. What troubles her more is their youngest son’s illness. How will they afford to take him to the hospital?
The family resides in the municipality of Sogod, situated at the head of Sogod Bay in Southern Leyte. This bay, rich in various fish species, serves as a significant fishing area for the eleven municipalities that surround it. The primary fishery resource is the mangko or frigate tuna (Euthynnus affinis). The seasonal arrival of this shallow-water tuna species has been a source of sustenance and income for the residents of Sogod and its neighboring municipalities
A study conducted in 1994 by researchers from Silliman University noted the presence of seven pelagic finfish species that are caught when they enter Sogod Bay. Recently, there have been sightings of whale sharks in the bay.
A recent study supported by the Economy and Environment Program for Southeast Asia (EESEA) has revealed that the marine resources in Sogod Bay have declined due to overfishing. The growing human population has also exerted excessive pressure on these fishery resources.
“Frigate tuna were once plentiful in Sogod Bay and served as a significant source of income from the 1970s to the 1990s. However, nowadays, fishermen struggle to make substantial catches,” the study indicated.
“Additionally, the population of reef species is also decreasing,” the study further noted. “Fishermen are now required to spend more time catching a kilogram of fish, with some needing to venture further from the shore.”
Davao Gulf, recognized as the 10th principal fishing area in the nation, is experiencing a similar situation. Research conducted by the World Fish Center, based in Kuala Lumpur, indicates that since the year 2000, both the quantity and quality of fish in this region have been consistently declining.
Except for the maya-maya, the catch rates for the other nine species have been decreasing. If this trend continues, species such as caraballas, bilong-bilong, molmol, and danggit could vanish entirely from Davao Gulf within the next ten years, according to the study. Although matambaka, tamban, and moro-moro show greater resilience, they too may face extinction within a generation.
The national office of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) links the reduction in fish catches within the country to the degradation of coastal areas, which span approximately 17,000 kilometers of coastline. This includes mangrove forests, tidal flats, estuaries, island ecosystems, seagrasses, coral reefs, and beaches.
The increasing population of Filipinos has further exacerbated the damage to the country’s ecologically-fragile coastal ecosystems.
“The continuing increase in population is due to relatively high fertility rates of Filipino women which is 3 children on average; however, 11 of the 17 regions show higher fertility rates than the national average,” said a report by the state-run Philippine News Agency.
Due to the rapid increase of the population, there is an overwhelming demand for food. As Joan Castro and Leona D’Agnes noted in a report for the Population Reference Bureau: “Life in the Philippines is never far from the sea.” They added, “Every Filipino lives within 45 miles of the coast, and every day, more than 4,500 new residents are born.”
The consequence of this population surge is overfishing. Peter Weber, in his report titled Net Loss: Fish, Jobs and the Marine Environment, states that “Overfishing is the primary cause of dwindling fish populations.”
As fish become increasingly rare, only affluent individuals can afford to purchase them. When the demand for fish exceeds the limited supply, prices inevitably rise, illustrating the principle of supply and demand.
In 2015, a report published by the Worldwide Fund (WWF) identified climate change as a significant factor contributing to the reduction of marine species over the past three decades. In Sogod Bay, natural disasters like storm surges and rising sea levels have been linked to the decreasing fish catch.
Climate change, driven by the rising emissions of greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide, is leading to an increase in the average temperature of the Earth’s atmosphere. As the temperature of the air increases, the oceans take in some of this heat, resulting in warmer waters.
“Climate change is already having a profound effect on life in the oceans,” the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) says. “Marine species tend to be highly mobile, and many are moving quickly toward the poles to stay cool as the average ocean temperature rises.”
Due to the decline in fish catches in the open seas, aquaculture or fish farming is on the rise, offering a competitive advantage over the pork, chicken, and beef sectors. Hal Kane, a researcher at the Washington-based Worldwatch Institute, wrote: “Fish farming is more efficient.”
In contrast, producing one kilogram of beef in a feedlot requires approximately seven kilograms of feed, while chicken, despite being the most efficient among land-raised meats, still necessitates around 2.2 kilograms of feed to produce one kilogram of chicken.
According to Kane, fish farming faces numerous challenges similar to those encountered in the livestock and poultry sectors. Each industry relies on the same essential resources—feed, water, and land—for production.
Kane noted that aquaculture often requires costly land situated along coastlines, lakes, or rivers, and there is competition for the grains utilized in feed, which could alternatively be allocated for human consumption. In addition, like other types of meat, farmed fish generate waste that must be managed or repurposed.
There is a promising development for the residents near Sogod Bay. According to findings from the EEPSEA study, marine protected areas (MPAs) in the bay demonstrate a superior coverage of both flora and fauna.
The study indicates that MPAs also exhibit the highest levels of coral composition, live coral cover, and species diversity. MPAs are designated regions where human activities are limited to safeguard the natural environment, its adjacent waters, and the ecosystems they support.
“With the assistance of the local government units and other non-government organizations, more MPA’s can be established to put back the golden years of Sogod Bay,” said Dr. Salome Bulayog, lead researcher of the study.
Furthermore, it is essential to promote the transplantation of mangroves and coral reefs among the local residents. “Who knows, Sogod Bay can still keep its name as one of the richest fishing grounds in Southern Leyte if not in the country,” Dr. Bulayog pointed out.
Meanwhile, in Davao Gulf, the regional BFAR office imposes a ban on commercial fishing at the Davao Gulf for three months (from June to August). During the closed fishing season, the use of bag nets and ring nets and fishing vessels regardless of tonnage are strictly prohibited.
The closed season is officially established by the Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) through Joint Administrative Order No. 02, titled “Establishing Closed Season for the Conservation of Small Pelagic Fishes in Davao Gulf.”
Regional Agriculture Director Macario Gonzaga said that this annual closure enables the replenishment of fish stocks and supports the reproduction and growth of marine resources, highlighting that the closed fishing season policy is a crucial measure for the conservation and protection of the country’s fishery resources.
The closed season is also seen as one of the measures to curb illegal fishing in the Davao Gulf.
Fish and rice serve as the primary dietary staples in the country. According to the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) based in Iloilo, the average Filipino consumed approximately 34.28 kilograms of fish and fishery products in 2021. This total includes 23.34 kilograms of fresh fish, 2.86 kilograms of dried fish, 3.89 kilograms of processed fish, 2.88 kilograms of crustaceans and mollusks, and 1.31 kilograms of other seafood.
