Small-scale fishers are too big to ignore

In 2023, I met and spoke before Too Big To Ignore (TBTI) Philippines, a research and knowledge-sharing network composed of 24 higher education institutions, during their first national symposium on small-scale fisheries held at UP Visayas.

- POPOY DE VERA

TBTI Philippines serves as the National Consortium for Small-Scale Fisheries Research and Development, bringing together higher education institutions (HEIs) that aim to make small-scale fisheries visible, viable and sustainable.

TBTI Philippines released a book entitled “Portrait of Small-Scale Fishers in the Philippines,” putting together 78 stories that describe the everyday lives of fishers — their contributions, struggles and hopes.

The stories reveal the challenges facing small-scale fishers: low income, limited investment and lack of assistance during the closed fishing season. They also struggle against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing that takes away their rightful catch and threatens their source of living.

The book clearly shows that small-scale fishers (SSF) may be small individually but are large collectively. The country’s 1.6 million small-scale fishers are the largest group in the fishing sector and account for one-fifth of the total fish catch. They employ millions of processors, traders and other workers in the fisheries value chain. Their catch remains the most affordable source of protein for 28.3 million Filipino households.

SSF work close to shore using simple passive gear. They help protect marine life and the coastal ecosystem. Compared to the country’s 4,800 registered commercial fishers, they have a smaller environmental footprint for nearly the same catch. Yet, despite their big contribution to food, livelihood and local economies, small-scale fishers remain among the poorest in the country.

This fact is clear: small-fishers are too big to ignore.