4 Additionally, surrounding fishing communities are often relocated to areas where they cannot fish.14 Coastal communities are also the most prone to the effects of climate change, including rising sea levels, changing ecosystems, and aggravation of extreme weather events. With the country situated at the typhoon belt of the Pacific, the country is visited by an average of 20 typhoons per year, five of which are considered destructive.15 Natural fish habitats essential to preserving fish stock, like mangroves, coral reefs, and sea grasses are also in peril due to the poor enforcement of fishery laws. The current COVID-19 pandemic has also created a new set of challenges and impacts for the sector. The quarantine measures16 implemented by the government have affected the ability of fisherfolks to bring their catch to the market, even though the government has ensured unhampered distribution of their products.17 Fisherfolks within the National Capital Region (NCR), particularly in Navotas, Las Piñas, and Malabon have reported a variety of issues,18 from inconsistency between local government units (LGUs) in allowing them to fish, to regulations 19 which they deem are an additional economic burden to them during these trying times. They are experiencing physical, mental, and economic disability, particularly the women fishers in the communities who have the additional burden and responsibility of ensuring food security in the household together with unpaid reproductive care work. When access to such vital sources of livelihood are lost, a broad range of human rights and the adequate standard of living are infringed specifically, the right to health, indigenous peoples’ right to land, territories, and resources, and the right to a healthy environment, among others. The research of the ESCR Center entitled the Right to Social Security of Farmers and Fisherfolks also showed that their access to social services is poor, as most of them live in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs). 20 The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) is a set of 17 goals adopted by the United Nations (UN) in 2015 as a universal call to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure all people will enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030.21 Within those goals is Goal 14 or ‘Life Below Water,’ under which is target 14.b whose aim is to ‘provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets.’ One of the indicators for target 14.b is “progress by countries in the degree of application of a legal/regulatory/policy/institutional framework which recognizes and protects access rights for small-scale fisheries.” SDG 14, its targets, and indicators present a clear framework for sustainable development in the fisheries and aquaculture sector. The SDGs are not the only international standards in monitoring human rights impacts on the fisheries sector. The International Labour Organization (ILO) has Convention 188 or the ‘Work in Fishing’ 14 “Navotas fisherfolk hold fluvial protest vs. reclamation, demolition” by R. Lumibao, published in Bulatlat, 17 Oct 2017 Available from www.bulatlat.com/2017/10/17/navotas-fisherfolk-hold-fluvial-protest-vs-reclamation-demolition/ (last viewed 07/15/2021) 15 Information on Disaster Risk Reduction of Member Countries, from the Asian Disaster Reduction Center, available from www.adrc.asia/nationinformation.php?NationCode=608&Lang=en (last viewed 07/15/2021) 16 The imposition of community quarantine over all of Luzon on 16 March 2020 did not include provisions on how fisherfolks and farmers can continue their activities. www.officialgazette.gov.ph/downloads/2020/03mar/20200316-MEMORANDUM-FROM-ES-RRD.pdf 17 DA calls for stronger farm to market links published 20 March 2020, available from www.da.gov.ph/da-calls-for-stronger-farm-to-marketlinks-amid-covid-19/ (last viewed 07/15/2021) 18 Ayuda sa Mangingisda Ibigay na! published note by Pangisda Pilipinas 11 April 2020, available from www.facebook.com/notes/pangisdapilipinas/ayuda-sa-mangingisda-ibigay-na/637674973449179/ (last viewed 07/15/2021) 19 Ibid. e.g checkpoints by the PCG; registration or permits of boats in the LGU, with the number painted on the side of the boat 20 Monitoring the Realization of the Right to Cultural Participation and Right to Social Security of Farmers/Fisherfolk and Indigenous Peoples of Region XI. May 2019 21 “The SDGs in Action” Available from www.undp.org/sustainable-development-goals (last viewed 08/13/2021)