A review of shark conservation and management legal frameworks in the Philippines

Abstract

Sharks are among the oldest groups of vertebrate animals, dating back to over 400 million years ago. In recent decades, fishing pressure and demand for shark products and derivatives, such as fins, meat, oil, have increased significantly, driving global declines in shark populations. Sharks are a valuable resource in the Philippines and are used for both extractive and non-extractive purposes. The primary objective of this paper is to outline international, national, and local legal frameworks that enable the management and conservation of sharks in the Philippines. This review commences by providing some background regarding the politico-legal context of the Philippines, as well as information related to shark populations, fisheries and research in this country. This paper also aims to make a case that the Philippine government is in a unique position to build on the momentum of past initiatives by passing comprehensive national shark legislation and continuing to support regulation of shark trade globally. While a national legal framework on its own cannot solve all the issues related to shark fisheries and management, it will help create and institutionalize an anchor for existing and future conservation, research, governance, and communication initiatives.