Empowering fisher alliances to address IUU
The rich marine habitats of the Visayan Sea are under significant pressure from by Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, which not only threatens the health of the ecosystem but the livelihoods of local fisherfolk who depend on it.
In 2020/21, an assessment was conducted towards better understanding the situation related to IUU fishing in Philippine waters, using the Philippine IUU Fishing Index and Threat Assessment Tool (IFIT). Findings from the assessment suggest several contributors to IUU fishing in the area, including poverty and inadequate sources of income, weak enforcement and a lack of information on fishery regulations.
Building on the 2020/21 IFIT assessment, this project provides training and capacity building activities on the IFIT tool and uses the results as a basis for better IUU fishing reduction planning.
Approximately 784 members of fishing organisations from five municipalities will benefit directly from the project, receiving priority access to training workshops and planning sessions. This number is expected to increase to 2,165 members as the project expands to include a further 11 municipalities at a later phase.
In the long-term, these communities are expected to benefit from improved fish stocks and habitats, leading to increased fish catches. This, in turn, will provide essential support for their families, reaching an estimated 10,825 men, women and children.
Additionally, a total of 16 Local Government Units and their community members will also benefit through improved marine resource management policies and programmes that include IUU Fishing Reduction Strategies. Once implemented, these strategies will lead to improved catch and income for the municipal fishers.
