The National Security Council (NSC) reiterated on Sunday that the Chinese government has no right to impose any kind of fishing moratorium in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

In a statement, NSC assistant director-general and spokesperson Jonathan Malaya assured that fishermen in northern Palawan can continue to enjoy the rich marine resources of the WPS.

Malaya encouraged the Palawan fishermen to venture beyond their municipal waters and fully utilize the natural resources in the WPS.

Earlier this week, Malaya met with around 170 fisherfolk from northern Palawan, where he urged them to assert their rights to the country’s territorial waters.

“The newly enacted Philippine Maritime Zones Act, UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea), and the 2016 Arbitral Ruling have clearly established our legal rights to the West Philippine Sea. I urge you to continue fishing in the WPS, and we are here to support you,” Malaya told the fishermen.

He emphasized that the Philippine government has not imposed any fishing moratorium, and he rejected the imposition of any guidelines by the China Coast Guard in the WPS.

Malaya clarified that the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources has imposed closed fishing seasons in other areas of the country’s archipelagic waters to allow fish stocks to recover, but none in the WPS.

“Moreover, the Chinese government has no legal authority to impose any moratorium or regulation on the activities of Filipino fishermen in the West Philippine Sea,” he said.

“Only the Philippine government can impose such regulations. And I’m here to tell you that you are free to fish anywhere in the WPS,” he added.