Legarda pushes electronic monitoring system to curb illegal fishing

MANILA — Senator Loren Legarda filed Senate Bill No. 2521, the Fisheries Vessel Monitoring Act, to establish a comprehensive electronic monitoring framework for fishing vessels operating in Philippine waters.

The proposed legislation targets illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities that threaten marine resources and undermine legitimate fishing operations. By implementing real-time vessel tracking and monitoring systems, the measure seeks to enhance government oversight and enforcement capabilities across the fishing industry.

Legarda's bill prioritizes the protection of small-scale and artisanal fishers, whose livelihoods face increasing pressure from unscrupulous operators engaged in illegal fishing practices. The electronic monitoring framework would provide authorities with the tools necessary to detect violations, track vessel movements, and ensure compliance with fisheries regulations.

The Philippines faces significant challenges from IUU fishing, particularly in its exclusive economic zone and contested waters. Stronger monitoring mechanisms are viewed as essential to safeguarding the nation's marine resources, which remain critical to food security and the survival of fishing communities throughout the archipelago.