Commercial fishing continues to hurt small fishers in municipal waters - Oceana

Commercial fishing in municipal waters pervades amid the coronavirus pandemic and the government should step up its monitoring and apprehension of violators to protect small fisherfolk, according to marine conservation group Oceana. Oceana said in a statement on Thursday that 42,934 commercial vessels were detected within municipal waters in 2020, about 4.7% lower than the 44,952 reported the previous year. The figures were sourced from Karagatan Patrol, a digital platform that uses Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) and senses lure lights that are likely used by commercial fishing boats.