WATCH: How a big fisher was allowed to fish in municipal waters

Simmering conflict over municipal waters may soon reach a tipping point after the Supreme Court First Division's decision was made public

MANILA, Philippines – A commercial fishing operator has been allowed to fish within municipal waters, an area that is almost exclusively reserved for small fisherfolk.

In August 2024, the Supreme Court First Division affirmed the 2021 ruling of the Malabon Regional Trial Court which permits Mercidar Fishing Corporation to fish within 15 kilometers from the coastline or what’s called as municipal waters.

Under the law, small fishers have preferential rights over municipal waters. Local government units have the discretion if they will allow select big fishers in their waters.

Mercidar’s victory could set a precedent for other commercial operators, as well as for government officials looking into the possible revision of the Fisheries Code.

Rappler’s Iya Gozum explains what transpired and what fishers and civil society hope to happen in the near future. – Rappler.com

Reporter: Iya Gozum
Producer/video editor: Cara Angeline Oliver
Production specialist: Jeff Digma, Ulysis Pontanares
Supervising producer: Beth Frondoso