The Philippines is among the largest fish producing countries in the world. Yet, hunger and poverty prevails, with fisher folks usually the most marginalized. The ability of its seas to provide cheap source of food and income for the Filipino population has been severely compromised, while its aquaculture’s full potential for rural development has yet to be realized (FAO, 2014). Ensuring inclusiveness as well as facilitating an enabled environment for the fishery industry will help address the aforementioned concerns.
Inclusiveness, on one hand, entails providing greater capacities and opportunities for fisher folks (together with other stakeholders) to participate in the activities and equitably partake of, the gains of the fishery industry. Enabling environment, on the other hand, ensures programs and policies are in place to support activities and uphold stakeholders’ rights. Both are envisioned to ensure that the fishery industry contributes to a) the country’s food security by making the major protein source within reach – affordable and accessible and b) the socio-economic well being – livelihood and welfare, of the industry’s stakeholders, specifically the marginalized fisher folks.
Assessing how policies, regulations and programs in the country are contributing or delimiting inclusiveness and state of enabled environment in the fishery industry, on a per species/commodity basis is a good starting point as any. Identifying
potentials and gaps in terms of policy, regulation and programs that aided/delimited the industry’ growth and development need focusing on. Likewise, to enhance learning insights, benchmarking with other countries. That is looking at, at where we are comparable and or lagging behind then using the insights gained and findings as input to suggested action areas, will definitely help a lot. Just a food for thought for the policy makers and industry players of the fishery sector.