Sen. Legarda files bill to protect small fishers from illegal commercial fishing

Senator Loren Legarda has filed a new bill that would strengthen the monitoring of fishing vessels in Philippine waters, a move aimed at cracking down on illegal fishing and protecting the livelihoods of small-scale fishers who have long complained about commercial boats encroaching on their fishing grounds.

Senate Bill No. 2521, or the proposed Fisheries Vessel Monitoring Act, seeks to establish an electronic vessel monitoring framework to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing within the country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and along its 36,289-kilometer coastline.

In a statement, Legarda emphasized the importance of the country's marine resources, not just for food but for the millions of Filipinos who depend on the sea for their daily bread.

“Our oceans are extremely important, as they are rich in resources that sustain our country. They also provide a livelihood for our small-scale fishers and coastal communities. We will not allow those who exploit our seas to continue destroying marine resources that should belong to the Filipino people,” Legarda said.

The filing comes as senators raised concerns about commercial fishing vessels entering municipal waters, a persistent problem that has frustrated small fishers from Palawan to the Visayas and Mindanao.

What does the bill seek to do?

The measure aims to amend Republic Act No. 8550, or the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998, to explicitly authorize the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to require electronic vessel monitoring systems on commercial and carrier vessels.

It would establish a risk-based tracking framework for commercial, distant-water and carrier vessels, while allowing local government units to adopt appropriate monitoring rules for municipal fishing boats. The bill also includes data privacy safeguards to protect vessel locations and movements as sensitive technical information, preventing unauthorized disclosure or use that could give private parties a commercial advantage.

Importantly, the bill would make company directors, managers and controlling owners personally and criminally liable if they direct or tolerate repeated efforts to evade vessel monitoring requirements.

Why now? The Supreme Court ruling and the push for action

The filing follows a January 2026 Supreme Court en banc decision that declared Fisheries Administrative Order No. 266 unconstitutional for lacking a clear statutory basis. That ruling left a legal gap in the government's ability to track commercial fishing vessels, and Legarda's bill seeks to close it.

Earlier that day, Sen. Raffy Tulfo delivered a privilege speech highlighting the plight of municipal fishers and the continued entry of commercial vessels into municipal waters. He expressed support for the bill and for legislation seeking to reserve municipal waters within 15 kilometers of the coastline for the exclusive use of small fishers.

Sen. Francis Pangilinan also weighed in, citing the Supreme Court ruling as a national concern requiring legislative action.

Legarda thanked both senators for championing the cause of small fishers.

“I would like to thank my fellow senators, Sen. Raffy Tulfo and Sen. Kiko Pangilinan, for championing the welfare of our fishers in the Senate today. Your support is an important step because we need to work together on this. However, much more needs to be done to fully protect our waters, and this bill will address those gaps,” she said.

What about the commercial fishing sector?

Legarda was quick to address concerns from the commercial fishing industry, saying the measure would not simply reinstate the 24-hour monitoring regime struck down by the Supreme Court. Instead, reporting requirements would be proportionate to the area, risks and enforcement needs involved.

“We recognize and respect the enterprise of our commercial fishing sector. The government should not interfere with legitimate business strategies or expose sensitive commercial information. But confidentiality cannot become a shield against lawful monitoring and enforcement. We need a system that protects commercial information while still allowing government to detect illegal fishing, protect municipal waters, and defend the rights and livelihoods of municipal fisherfolk,” Legarda said.

International practice and the road ahead

Legarda noted that electronic vessel monitoring is an established international practice for sustainable marine conservation, citing its use by the United States' National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the European Union and the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization.

Marine conservation group Oceana Philippines has also argued that vessel monitoring is essential to protecting municipal waters within 15 kilometers of the coastline, preserving coastal marine habitats and enabling enforcement agencies to respond quickly to illegal fishing.

For the millions of Filipino fishers who cast their nets each day in hopes of a decent catch, this bill represents a step toward fairness. The question now is whether Congress will act with the urgency the situation demands.

“We must act now to safeguard our waters. This bill is about tracking our commitment to our marine environment, to our food security, and to the millions of Filipinos who depend on the sea,” Legarda said.

Legarda called for the immediate passage of Senate Bill No. 2521 to promote the sustainable management and conservation of Philippine waters.