Our main problem in natural resources management in the country is not lack of good policies but failure to implement these policies.
The laws governing good management are often deliberately broken. This is the reason why initial successes in the management of our renewable natural resources cannot be sustained in the long term.
Having said that, I hasten to point out that a few outstanding examples of good governance of our local natural resources exist where local officials lead in setting up projects that tend to conserve marine biodiversity, including fishery species. But they are too few and far between, despite the many national projects funded from external sources to improve governance.
An example of good policy is the Fishery Code of 1998, where fishery resources are partitioned into two groups of fishers: the small-scale or artisanal fishers and the large commercial fishers.
But the Code is not implemented by many LGUs, and large-scale commercial fishers continue to operate within the coastal areas reserved for small fishers who are struggling to make a living.
And what is bad is that these commercial fishers have been reported to use fishing methods that tend to be destructive to fishery stocks, such as “superlights” and fine-meshed nets.
By the way, I once asked a Bureau of Fisheries official why BFAR has not prevented the recent massive fish kills in Taal Lake. The response was that the local government units did not implement the regulations controlling the stocking of fish in fish cages and fish pens.
This evasive reply does not make sense because the agency exercises oversight, and is tasked to regulate fish stocking in aquaculture.
A close look into such violations reveals that operators of commercial fishing boats who violate the law occupy high positions in government, local or national. This situation encourages the lower or subordinate officials to follow suit.
The result is that management and protection of natural resources according to the Fishery Code are neglected or ignored, and coastal resources continue to degrade.
Evidence is mounting that fish yields today are many times lower than those 40 to 50 years ago.
What about the local communities that are willing to engage in activities that can improve their fish catch? They become quiet and are dismayed and demoralized when they learn that high government officials are involved in illegal or questionable fishing activities. So they continue to practice unsustainable fishing even in depleted areas, making the depleted condition of fishing grounds even worse.
So who are concerned with the depletion of the marine resources at present and in the future? Only a few people in local communities, some organizations and academic institutions, many of whom have little or no immediate or direct stake in the fishery/biodiversity resources.
But they are worried about how the quality of life of our people will be affected by the uncaring attitude and behavior of those in power.
What is clear is that policy-formulating and law-making are definitely not enough. Laws must be implemented in order to benefit the people and the country.