11 beyond the 15 kilometer-boundary to try and secure their catch. If apprehended, they face stringent penalties imposed by RA No. 1065456 or the act amending RA No. 8550. Besides the weak enforcement of laws on commercial fishing operations in municipal waters, other issues and challenges were highlighted such as: (1) the LGU favoring revenue generation over marine conservation;57 (2) commercial fishing operations employing local people from fish production and processing;58 (3) the commercial fishing groups agenda and influence in the area; 59 and (4) the financial capacity of the commercial fisheries – that even though they were caught for violating municipal/city ordinances, they get away with it by paying the meager fines and penalties imposed by the local ordinances.60 61 Because of these challenges, the JJCICSI study noted that artisanal fisherfolks had lesser fish catch in terms of both volume and variety. From 40-150 kilogram of catch in a day during the 90’s to early 2000’s, it has decreased to 5-10 kilograms daily during the last 3-5 years.62 The lower catch volume meant lower incomes. From 20,000 PHP in the 90’s to only around 5,000 PHP at the time of the study. With such low revenue generated from fishing, artisanal fisherfolk have looked to other sources of livelihood such as the farming of rice, vegetable, or seaweed farming. 63 Some have turned to illegal methods of fishing in order to continue their trade, but this has resulted in destruction of fish habitats and marine resources and has further decreased their already small catch volume. Reclamation in Coastal Areas Development in coastal areas in the country has seen a sharp rise in the past years. 64 Land reclamation or creating new land for human use or resource extraction 65 is vastly becoming a common way to expand the country’s spaces for economic activities. The neighboring Southeast Asian countries of the Philippines have all carried out land reclamation activities over the past decades and have changed their landscapes in the pursuit of having more spaces for economic growth or for resource extraction. Singapore’s worldrenowned Changi Airport famously sits on a reclaimed piece of land. 66 However, land reclamation comes at the cost of its adverse impacts on the environment and the people making their livelihood in coastal areas. Aggressive coastal development has led to the degradation of coasts as fish habitats and viable fisheries areas.67 Government led reclamation projects have not recognized these threats and have largely undervalued research on the effects of such projects, particularly to fishing 56 An Act to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing, Amending Republic Act No. 8550 57 Karapat-Dagat, supra note 54, p.59, the potential income from commercial fishing vessels for payment of fees, licenses, and permits 58 Ibid, p.59 59 Ibid 60 Karapat-Dagat, supra note 54, p.60 61 Ibid. The study was done in 4 areas. Subic, Zambales; Pandan, Antique; Coron, Palawan; and Zamboanga City. 62 Ibid. p. 60 63 64 Ibid. p. 61 “Managing Philippine Coasts and Seas: Understanding the Challenge” published in oneocean.org/flash/the_philippine_seas.html as extracted from “Philippine Coastal Management Guidebook Series no. 1, Coastal Management Orientation and Overview. (2001)” (last viewed 11/8/2021) 65 “What is Land Reclamation? A Definition + Types and Examples” available from www.greenandgrowing.org/what-is-land-reclamation/ (last viewed 11/8/2021). 66 “New Land in Water: Economically and Socially, Land Reclamation Pays,” by R. Kolman, published September 2012, p.4, available from www.iadc-dredging.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/article-new-land-in-the-water-economically-and-socially-land-reclamation-pays-1281.pdf (last viewed 11/8/2021) 67 “Management strategies to minimize the dredging impacts of coastal development on fish and fisheries” by A. Wenger et. Al, published 08 June 2018, available from conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/conl.12572 (last viewed 11/8/2021)