The chairperson of the House Committee on Aquaculture and Fisheries, Representative Tsuyoshi Anthony Horibata, stressed that any proposal to bar commercial fishing vessels from operating within the 15-kilometer municipal waters must carefully balance the livelihood of small-scale fisherfolk with the food security needs of more than 100 million Filipinos.

The representative from the 1st District of Camarines Sur raised the point during a recent committee meeting where agencies and industry groups discussed House Bill 5606, or the proposed Atin ang Kinse Kilometro Act.

Officials from the Department of Agriculture and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) disputed claims by Ronnel Arambulo, vice chair of the progressive fisherfolk group PAMALAKAYA, that allowing commercial vessels in municipal waters would automatically cause overfishing.

They asserted that the allegation lacked evidence and unfairly portrayed commercial fish workers—who are also Filipino fishermen—as indifferent to protecting marine resources or supplying affordable fish to low-income consumers.

BFAR director Elizer Salilig cited viral videos of fish washing ashore as evidence of underfishing, not overfishing. He argued the fish that died and drifted ashore “could have fed and benefited many Filipino families.”

Salilig also added that restricting commercial vessels from areas small-scale fishers cannot exploit forces consumers to rely on overpriced imported frozen fish during closed seasons.

BFAR cited that while fishing closures help stocks recover, many municipal fishers lack the gear to catch certain species once fishing resumes. These fish then migrate to neighboring countries, are harvested there, and eventually return to the Philippines as imported frozen products.

Industry representatives strongly defended their practices.

Jaydrick Yap, vice president of the SOPHIL Fishing Association, said commercial operators already follow sustainability measures and collaborate with government researchers to ensure they do not deplete stocks.

Yap stressed that commercial fishermen “care for the marine ecosystem just like small-scale fisherfolk.” Ferddie Lim of the Inter-Island Deep Sea Fishing Association added that commercial operators mainly target sardines and galunggong (round scad)—species abundant within the 15-km zone but often in areas not fished by small-scale operators.

Lim said fishing exclusively outside the zone is “not realistic,” noting that catches drop sharply in deeper waters, which would limit the country’s supply of affordable sardines and galunggong.

Meanwhile, 1Tahanan Party-list Representative Nathaniel Oducado, author of House Bill 6556 amending the Fisheries Code, proposed a compromise to strike a balance between conservation and livelihood.

Oducado suggested allowing only municipal fishing from the coastline up to 10 kilometers and permitting commercial fishing in the 10.1–15 kilometer zone only if the water depth is at least 20 fathoms. These conditions are intended to ensure small-scale fishers are not displaced.

Furthermore, to ensure food security, HB 6556 puts the task of identifying which commercial fishing vessels can operate within municipal waters on the national government, to be done through the grant of specific licenses.

At the close of the hearing, Horibata emphasized that any policy shift must be “evidence-based rather than assumption-based.” He announced that the committee will form a technical working group to consolidate scientific data, assess socioeconomic impacts, and craft a calibrated policy that protects marine resources while meeting the needs of millions of Filipino consumers.

Separately, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. urged consumers on Tuesday to consider more affordable fish options. His appeal came amid a tight global supply of galunggong, which has pushed retail prices higher and signals the industry’s continuing struggle to meet domestic demand.