MANILA, Philippines — Fishers and youth groups gathered at the University of the Philippines Diliman on Sunday, June 7, to press President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Congress to protect the country’s 15-kilometer municipal waters, saying stricter enforcement of fisheries laws is needed to safeguard livelihoods, food security and marine ecosystems.
Around 300 fishers and youth advocates converged at the UP Diliman Sunken Garden, where about 150 participants formed a human banner of the number “15” to symbolize the municipal waters reserved under Philippine law for municipal and artisanal fisherfolk.
Fisherfolk and youth advocates form a human “15” at UP Diliman on June 7, 2026, calling for the protection of the country’s 15-kilometer municipal waters. (Photo courtesy of Oceana Philippines)
Municipal waters refer to the marine area extending 15 kilometers from the shoreline and are reserved under the Fisheries Code for the preferential use of municipal and subsistence fisherfolk. These nearshore waters serve as breeding and nursery grounds for fish and contain critical habitats such as coral reefs, mangroves and seagrass beds.
The Philippines has about 308,612 square kilometers of municipal waters spanning more than 36,000 kilometers of coastline. About 930 coastal local government units are responsible for managing nearshore fisheries.
