National Target
TARGET 8: By 2028, fish stocks of economically important species will be maintained.
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Fisher overcapacity has resulted in major overexploitation of Philippine reef fisheries. Demersal fish stocks are biologically and economically overfished in almost all areas other than Eastern Luzon, Palawan, and the Southern Sulu Sea (BFAR, n.d.).
Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUUF) is an aggravating factor, posing impediments to all attempts to manage fisheries resources and fish stocks in the country. The growing demand for fisheries resources, the increase in the numbers of fishers and vessels, and the improving efficiency of fishing gear drive the collection of these resources way beyond their capacity to recover. Moreover, the decline in the availability of fisheries resources increases competition and, thus, prods players to resort to illegal, and often, more efficient forms of fishing.
From 2013 to 2014, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) through the Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) as the National Technical Focal Point for the Convention on Biological Diversity, conducted a multi-stakeholder process of formulating the Philippine Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (PBSAP) 2015-2028 through national and regional consultation-workshops. More than 800 individuals participated, representing nearly 200 organizations from national government agencies (NGAs), local government units (LGUs), academe and research, civil society organizations (CSOs), and the private sector. The PBSAP is the country’s roadmap to conserve its biodiversity and achieve its vision - “By 2028, biodiversity is restored and rehabilitated, valued, effectively managed, secured, maintaining ecosystem services to sustain healthy, resilient Filipino communities and delivering benefits to all.” It has nine strategic priorities -three direct interventions and 6 indirect interventions- with 113 actions translated into 20 national targets with respective indicators that conform to the global Aichi Biodiversity Targets, which includes this particular target-Target 8. The interventions are meant to deliver key results to achieve the 20 national targets and contribute to the overall human well-being (see page 86 of PBSAP 2025-2028 Full Version). In June 2016, the DENR issued Department Administrative Order (DAO) No. 2016- 12 adopting the PBSAP and authorized the BMB to coordinate the implementation and mainstreaming of the PBSAP into the plans and programs of concerned national government agencies (NGAs) and local government units (LGUs), including government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) and government financial institutions (GFIs), and state universities and colleges (SUCs). This was reinforced in November 2017 with the issuance of Department Memorandum Circular (DMC) 2016-745 integrating biodiversity conservation in the planning, implementation and monitoring of all development projects and tenurial instruments issued by the DENR. The PBSAP integrates the Philippines’ obligations under the CBD into the national development and sectoral planning frameworks, and contributes to achieving the current administration’s 10-point agenda which are reflected in the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2016-2022 (see PDP 2016-2022) . It likewise contributes to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (see page 18 of PBSAP 2015-2028 Abridged Version).
