Written by Kate Bernadette Rañoco
This clip from the film Muro Ami (1999), is not very far from the truth. In the Philippines, almost five percent of children work in deep-sea fishing and diving. These cheap child labor in fisheries do not only incite child and human rights abuses but also encourage detriments to environmental protection and conservation.
That is why annually, during November 21, we celebrate World Fisheries Day. A day to promote sustainability and fight exploitation of both the environment and human labor and employment in fisheries all over the world. These violations do not occur only in developing countries but can also be found in the developed world. That is why there is a tremendous need to focus on and ensure sustainability throughout the different sectors involving aquaculture communities.
According to a recent study by the United Nations, more than two-thirds of the world’s waters are affected by overfishing and more than one-third is in a state of decline due to loss of fish habitats, pollution, and global warming.
Since the Philippines is an archipelago, it has one of the most diverse and richest coastal waters. But despite this richness in water resources, protection and preservation of waterways have not been as prevalent as the protection put on agricultural communities all over the country. Not to mention the proximity of coastal communities to different bodies of water also has contributed to the severe ocean and coastal pollution. Run-off and domestic and industrial waste carried out into the water from these communities have led to the depletion of fishes and disruption of the ecosystem.
Our oceans and other bodies of water are essential for the survival of our species. Our rainwater, drinking water, weather, climate, coastlines, much of our food, and even our oxygen, are all ultimately provided and regulated by the sea. And over 3 billion people worldwide depend on marine and coastal biodiversity for their livelihood. (United Nations, 2020)
Saving our waters must be a priority, the World Fisheries day is a step towards awareness and is the first step towards environmental revolution and claiming climate justice. Unless we address these issues collectively and lobby for our governments to create solutions for these increasingly interconnected problems, we would not have a future to look forward to.
Together, let us push for environmental protection, climate justice, and reel in sustainability for all.
References:
Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources. (2020). Retrieved 17 November 2020, from https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/oceans/
Maki, R. (2020). At the Deep End: Child Labor in Fisheries – Stop Child Labor. Retrieved 17 November 2020, from http://stopchildlabor.org/?p=3148
World Fisheries Day. Retrieved 17 November 2020, from http://www.gdrc.org/doyourbit/21_11-fisheries-day.html
World Fisheries Day 2019 | International Symposium on Fisheries Sustainability | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (2019). Retrieved 17 November 2020, from http://www.fao.org/about/meetings/sustainable-fisheries-symposium/programme/day-3/world-fisheries-day/en/
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