IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE TO PHILIPPINE
HILIPPINE FISHERIES
FISHERIES*
Mudjekeewis D. Santos, Ph.D.
Scientist II,, National Fisheries Research and Development Institute
Focal Person, BFAR Adaptation and Mitigation Initiative in Agriculture
culture (AMIA)
mudjiesantos@gmail.com
Abstract/Statement
The Philippine fisheries is among the largest fisheries in the world in terms of catch and
production. It contributes significantly to the national economy and it provides employment
and food to majority of coastal communities,
commu
, which comprises about 70% of the total
population of the country.. In terms of biodiversity, the country harbours
rs the highest number of
marine species per square area in the world. Unfortunately, the sustainability of this rich fishery
resource and diversity is threatened by numerous threats including unsustainable fishing
practices,, habitat degradation, pollution, invasive species and now climate change concerns.
The Philippines hass been consistently predicted to be one of the main countries to be impacted
by climate change. Consequently,
Consequently the fisheries sector of the country is predicted to be most
impacted since about 70% of the population lives in coastal communities, about 70% of protein
requirement of coastal communities comes from fish, and fisherfolks have low levels of sociosocio
economic capacities and are considered “poorest of the poor”.
A Climate Change – Disaster Risk Reduction Management (CC
(CC-DRRM)
DRRM) Strategic Framework has
been established and institutionalized in the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)
to address CC-DRRM
DRRM related issues that beset the fisheries
fisheries sector in the country. Three (3) main
strategiess has been identified 1) Develop knowledge management and information system
network, 2) Establish institutional mechanisms and 3) Promote fisherfolk empowerment
empo
to
enhance adaptive capacity.
And as part of developing knowledge management and information system, we started to
collect data (primary and secondary) to understand and/or detect impacts of CC to the fisheries
sector and use this for development planning. Here, we present the impacts of CC, usi
using El
Nino,, which is predicted to increase in occurrence as predicted effect of CC. Reviews and actual
studies conducted revealed a number of negative impacts of El Nino specific to the fisheries
sector including the reduction of aquatic food supply and livelihoods. We likewise conducted
vulnerability assessments following the tool (FishVOOL) that we developed for the purpose of
assessing the different
ifferent fisheries sub
sub-sectors
sectors in the country. We determined variable, locationspecific vulnerabilities (low to medium).
medium) Finally, we noted that the fishery sector’s weakness lies
in its adaptive capacities, particularly low income, lack of support
port and limited access to
information.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------*COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS
RIGHTS. Public Hearing on Climate Change.. May 23-24, 2018
@ CHR Inquiry Hall, Diliman, Quezon City