The frontliners at sea
Intricate maps mark contested claims in the West Philippine Sea, while on the very waters they represent, Filipino fisherfolk eke out a living, balancing the bounty of Scarborough Shoal with the ever-present tension of a geopolitical chess game.
As foreign policy experts dissect strategic maneuvers and military analysts debate potential flashpoints, Filipino fishermen bear the brunt of this protracted conflict. We, the public, do not need intricate geopolitical analysis to see their plight. Theirs is a story etched in fear, frustration, and lost income.
This struggle is far removed from grand pronouncements and strategic posturing. Our fishermen do not eat security concepts for breakfast. Their dilemma is far more immediate: venturing out in boats, not just braving the natural perils of the sea, but also the capricious aggression they might encounter from our neighbor who employs grey-zone tactics. These are the human costs of unresolved territorial disputes, measured in lost fishing days, damaged equipment, and disrupted lives. Worse, there are occasions when there is simply nothing to catch. Called “bukol” by the locals, the sight not only means hunger but also higher debt as they rely on loans to finance their fishing trips.
Repeated exposure to hardship can dull our sense of urgency. We risk becoming numb to the underlying problems that keep these tragedies recurring, making it harder to break free from the cycle. But that is not the story of Masinloc whose fisherfolk made headlines in 2015 with their urgent appeal to the United Nations regarding human rights violations – a clear indication of refusal to succumb to helplessness. When the historic Hague ruling was issued in our favor on July 12, 2016, Mayor Arsenia Lim was just settling into her first two months in office. Among the inherited headaches she and her policymaking team had to contend with were the moratorium on fishing cages and rogue-fishing vessels, local and foreign.
Years have passed since then, and while conflicts over territories and exclusive economic zones (EEZ) remain a long game, the spirit of Masinloc’s fishing community continues to inspire. This determination is strengthened by innovative projects like the Fisheries Refugia based on a concept to conserve spawning and nursery population. Have you heard of it?
To put the concept of fisheries refugia into action, the Philippines has identified three key areas: Bolinao, Pangasinan; Coron, Palawan; and Masinloc, Zambales. These sites serve as pilot projects, demonstrating the benefits of this approach. Through training workshops, fishers and local government units (LGUS) are working together to learn about the ecosystem approach to fisheries management. This combined knowledge is crucial for the longterm success of these refugia and the sustainable management of our valuable fishery resources.
The forward-looking reorientation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) under the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept (CADC) presents possibilities for protecting our newly established fisheries refugia. A Philippine naval officer and research associates posit an interesting local and indigenous application of game theory based on Patintero and Chinese Garter to better understand the strategic logic behind the contested territorial features.
In the course of dealing with other nations, it is only natural that some of our interests will diverge. But the sovereignty and political will we demand from our leaders reside in us too. Let us speak up, for the fisherman whose voice remains unheard and whose days at sea have become more perilous than ever.