Illegal Fishing Activities Research Articles

Illegal use of natural resources in federal protected areas of the Brazilian Amazon.

BackgroundThe Brazilian Amazon is the world’s largest rainforest regions and plays a key role in biodiversity conservation as well as climate adaptation and mitigation. The government has created a network of protected areas (PAs) to ensure long-term conservation of the region. However, despite the importance of and positive advances in the establishment of PAs, natural resource depletion in the Brazilian Amazon is pervasive.MethodsWe evaluated a total of 4,243 official law enforcement records generated between 2010 and 2015 to understand the geographical distribution of the illegal use of resources in federal PAs in the Brazilian Amazon. We classified illegal activities into ten categories and used generalized additive models (GAMs) to evaluate the relationship between illegal use of natural resources inside PAs with management type, age of PAs, population density, and accessibility.ResultsWe found 27 types of illegal use of natural resources that were grouped into 10 categories of illegal activities. Most infractions were related to suppression and degradation of vegetation (37.40%), followed by illegal fishing (27.30%) and hunting activities (18.20%). The explanatory power of the GAMs was low for all categories of illegal activity, with a maximum explained variation of 41.2% for illegal activities as a whole, and a minimum of 14.6% for hunting activities.DiscussionThese findings demonstrate that even though PAs are fundamental for nature conservation in the Brazilian Amazon, the pressures and threats posed by human activities include a broad range of illegal uses of natural resources. Population density up to 50 km from a PA is a key variable, influencing illegal activities. These threats endanger long-term conservation and many efforts are still needed to maintain PAs that are large enough and sufficiently intact to maintain ecosystem functions and protect biodiversity.

Illegal fishing bycatch overshadows climate as a driver of albatross population decline

Effective management of albatross populations requires understanding the impacts of environmental factors on albatross demographics. An integrated modelling approach incorporating multiple data sources can further the understanding of albatross demographics by incorporating error from all components of modeling, and help distinguish between variability related to one factor (e.g. environment) from that of another factor (e.g. density dependence). We applied such an integrated, spatially-explicit population model to quantify the impact of environmental conditions (sea surface temperature, SST), fisheries, and density dependence on a black-browed albatross Thalassarche melanophris population breeding on Kerguelen Island, southern Indian Ocean for the period 1950 to 2011. The model was structured by sex, age-class, and breeding stage, with a 5° × 5° spatial scale and monthly temporal scale. All parameters were estimated within a maximum likelihood framework. This includes estimation of seabird bycatch rates of each of 5 fishing super-fleets, grouped by gear type and reported bycatch rates: (1) Japanese pelagic longline, (2) other pelagic longline, (3) legal demersal longline, (4) trawl, and (5) illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) demersal longline. A decline in the Kerguelen black-browed albatross population occurred between the mid-1990s through the mid-2000s. Our analysis attributes the majority of modelled bycatch to the IUU demersal longline super-fleet operating near Kerguelen Island for this period. Including SST during the incubation period indicated that warm SST favors high breeding success. These results indicate that effective management requires an integrated understanding of the impacts of the environment as well as illegal and legal fishing activities on vulnerable populations.

PERLINDUNGAN HUKUM TERHADAP IKAN HIU DAN IKAN PARI UNTUK MENJAGA KESEIMBANGAN EKOSISTEM LAUT INDONESIA

The population of sharks and rays in Indonesia threatened with extinction. Based on the findings of WWF Indonesia that there are at least 10 million sharks caught in Indonesian waters each year for commercial purposes. Urgency of protection against sharks and stingrays are not only conservation activities related to efforts to save species of marine animals from extinction, but also related to global environmental issues. Until this time there has been no regulation of the Indonesian government, which specifically provides protection to the conservation of sharks and rays in Indonesia’s marine waters. In this paper, the author will discuss two findings. First, the lack of regulations that provide legal protection to sharks and stingrays from illegal fishing activity. Secondly, there are two efforts can be made by the government, repressive and preventive measures. A repressive measure carried out by law enforcement with a very heavy sanction the perpetrators of fishing of sharks and stingrays. Preventive efforts done by making shark conservation areas and through education and awareness to the community.

Illegal ingegno fishery and conservation of deep red coral banks in the Sicily Channel (Mediterranean Sea)

Abstract Recent ROV surveys conducted on the Ragusa bank in the Sicily Channel (Mediterranean Sea) documented illegal and continuous use of the ‘ingegno’ gear for red coral fishing. Three lost gears were recorded showing different levels of epibiosis thus supporting multi‐annual exploitation of the bank. The red coral population of the Ragusa bank showed a typical ‘forest‐like’ configuration with upright, medium‐sized colonies similar to those of other commercially exploited deep Mediterranean banks. The direct negative effect of this trawling gear was evident from numerous rocky boulders completely enveloped by lost nets and occasionally turned over. Red coral fragments as well as fragments of ‘ingegno’ nets were observed in high abundance on the sea floor. This evidence suggests that this gear is highly destructive even on rough sea floors, contrary to the traditional view, which is that it has a more random impact on rough rocky bottoms. The estimated coral uptake of ‘ingegno’ is 45% of the total coral biomass, while the estimated coral loss, in terms of fragments, is 9%, demonstrating the high impact of this gear. The study highlighted the infringement of the red coral fishing ban by trawling gears as well as a lack of effective policing. The strengthening of controls on landings at nearby harbours, and education programmes for the local maritime communities are among the management actions proposed to protect these surviving red coral populations from the ongoing illegal fishing activity.

A Study on KOREA-CHINA Fishing Dispute and Marine SECURITY Strengthening Plan

In the Korean waters, illegal fishing activities by Chinese fishing vessels are increasing rapidly and becoming violent. For example, due to the...

ANALISIS DAMPAK ILLEGAL FISHING TERHADAP PRODUKSI TANGKAPAN NELAYAN PERAIRAN UMUM DI KABUPATEN BARITO KUALA KALIMANTAN SELATAN

This study aims to (1) analyze the institutional capacity of fisheries surveillance in Barito Kuala regency; (2) analyze community participation in addressing the problems of illegal fishing; and (3) comparing the level of income of fishing communities before and after the formation of Pokmaswas against illegal fishing in Barito Kuala regency. The study activities carried out at Jejangkit Pasar Village, Jejangkit District, Barito Kuala Regency, South Kalimantan, with the object of research of Pokmaswas Berkat Bersama. The data collected were data sourced directly from the observation in the study location and other supporting data related to the study object. Data analyzed with descriptive and paired t – test to compare the capture production before and after illegal fishing. The results showed that Barito Kuala regency had facilities that were intended for fish resource monitoring through patrols, conducting enforcement by regulatory authorities for fisheries, socialization of surveillance system of society based (SISWASMAS) but violations still occurred so that they gave the impression of ineffectiveness or not optimal surveillance activities undertaken in the prevention and treatment of illegal fishing, due to the lack of public understanding factors as well as economy factors. The level of participation of fishermen of Pokmaswas Berkat Bersama in the supervision of fishery resources was quite high, judging from the attitude of fishermen of Pokmaswas Berkat Bersama who mostly reported to the supervising apparatus when they saw illegal fishing activities, rebuked and advised, and ever discussed the issue of illegal fishing with their friends and were willing if they are involved in a meeting that discussed the illegal fishing. Results of the statistical analysis showed highly significant differences in capture production between before and after the occurrence of illegal fishing, where the fishermen average capture production of Pokmaswas Berkat Bersama of 2005 was 12.631 kg; after illegal fishing in 2014 it was 3.642 kg, so it was decreased by 58%.

Socioeconomic impacts of marine protected areas in the Mediterranean and Black Seas

The socioeconomic implications of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and perceptions of stakeholders on MPA impacts are important to consider when designing, implementing, and managing MPAs. However, the currently available knowledge about these areas and especially of stakeholder perceptions is scarce and limited to restricted geographic areas. The present study aims to address this gap by examining these factors in the Mediterranean and Black Seas using an extensive literature review and an online survey approach. We collated and examined a total of 208 published studies on socioeconomic impacts of MPAs and marine uses. We found that for fishing, the socioeconomic impacts of MPAs were generally perceived as negative for industrial fishing and positive for artisanal fishing. In the online survey, we collected ca. 100 responses and found that stakeholder perceptions on the impacts of MPAs differ across sectors and regions. Industrial fishing was perceived as being negatively impacted in the Black Sea, while most respondents from the Mediterranean Sea were neutral in their responses relating industrial fishing and MPAs. The impact of MPAs on artisanal and recreational fishing was generally viewed as neutral by respondents from the Black Sea, whereas most Mediterranean respondents indicated a positive impact of MPAs. We also found that perceptions of the major threats to MPAs differed across the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. Responses from the Black Sea were systematically shifted towards a more negative perception of threats to MPAs compared to those from the Mediterranean Sea. Illegal fishing and other illegal activities were considered to be the most relevant threats to MPAs by stakeholders in both regions. The mismatch found between evidence of MPA effectiveness and impacts from the scientific literature and the results of our survey suggests that within the framework of maritime spatial planning and ecosystem-based management, effective MPA planning should be informed by multiple sources across regions.

Does Disclosure of Illegal Fishing Information Lead to Reduction of Seafood Sales? Measuring the Power of 'Market Instrument' for Compliance Promotion

EU and the US have conducted sanction policy against those countries whose vessels have committed serious illegal fishing activities (IUU activities), by publicly identifying such countries as “IUU fishing nations”. This study evaluates the sanction policy’s impact size on the seafood export value of sanctioned IUU countries and its trend in terms of several angles, hypothesizing that sanction policy will reduce seafood export value from IUU countries through reputational loss in increasingly environmentally aware global markets. This study have revealed that information disclosure sanction does significantly reduce the raw seafood export value from sanctioned countries to the world by approximately 10-20% on average, being controlled with their export value of other foods (e.g. meat, rice, sugar) and time-variant fixed effects. However, the significant impact seems not to surface when looking at each market (EU15, US, other countries) individually. The impact was weaker and less significant on processed products than on raw seafood. These findings offer a new empirical evidence which supports the effectiveness of non-compliance information disclosure as a “market instrument” which could eliminate or reduce the sales of seafood products from non-compliant sources, under some limitations. It is expected that the findings of this study contribute to better informed decisions of global fisheries and environment managers on how to best promote environmental compliance.

Illegal hunting and fishing in Brazil: a study based on data provided by environmental military police

Illegal hunting and fishing activities are of great relevance to conservation policies. Few studies with regional focus of the impacts of these activities in Brazil are available. The aim of this study was to characterize illegal hunting and fishing on a national level by collecting data from the environmental police. We analyzed reports prepared by 16 states, all of them which contained a variety of information about seized species, and showed a lack of standardization of data collection and presentation. Illegal fish seizures were predominantly of Amazonian species. Illegal hunting seizures showed the most uniform territorial distribution. Armadillos (Dasypodidae family), pacas (Cuniculus paca), and capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) were the most frequently seized species, and numerous seizures of Brazilian guinea pig (Cavia aperea) were reported in northeastern Brazil. The reports provided by environmental military police have great informative power for conservation policies, but they must be standardized among states to improve the quality of data provided and analysis.

Illegal Fishing Activity ‒ A New Threat in Mannar Island Coastal Area (Sri Lanka)

Abstract Illegal fishing net use is one of the most serious threats to the health of the world’s fisheries and for the secure employment of fishers. Illegal modes of fishing adversely affect the fishing industry according to the Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Ministry of Sri Lanka which is the regulatory body of the fisheries industry. In Sri Lanka, usage of illegal fishing methods has increased in recent years. There is an urgent need to identify prohibited or illegal fishing activities and the use of dangerous or harmful substances in fishing. The present study was carried out in the Mannar coastal area from June 2013 until the latter part of June 2014, to identify illegal, prohibited and dangerous fishing activities, and to understand the major threats and impacts on the fishing community and the socio, economic, biological and ecological impacts through field surveys and library methods. The study aims to outline appropriate planning and solutions to minimize illegal fishing and to save the coastal biodiversity and fishing community.

Automatic Boat Identification System for VIIRS Low Light Imaging Data

The ability for satellite sensors to detect lit fishing boats has been known since the 1970s. However, the use of the observations has been limited by the lack of an automatic algorithm for reporting the location and brightness of offshore lighting features arising from boats. An examination of lit fishing boat features in Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) day/night band (DNB) data indicates that the features are essentially spikes. We have developed a set of algorithms for automatic detection of spikes and characterization of the sharpness of spike features. A spike detection algorithm generates a list of candidate boat detections. A second algorithm measures the height of the spikes for the discard of ionospheric energetic particle detections and to rate boat detections as either strong or weak. A sharpness index is used to label boat detections that appear blurry due to the scattering of light by clouds. The candidate spikes are then filtered to remove features on land and gas flares. A validation study conducted using analyst selected boat detections found the automatic algorithm detected 99.3% of the reference pixel set. VIIRS boat detection data can provide fishery agencies with up-to-date information of fishing boat activity and changes in this activity in response to new regulations and enforcement regimes. The data can provide indications of illegal fishing activity in restricted areas and incursions across Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) boundaries. VIIRS boat detections occur widely offshore from East and Southeast Asia, South America and several other regions.

A Biophysical and Economic Profile of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands as Potential Large-Scale Antarctic Protected Areas.

The current hiatus in the establishment of a network of marine protected areas (MPAs) in the Antarctic means that other routes to conservation are required. The protection of overseas territories in the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic represents one way to advance the initiation of such a network. This review of the physical and biological features of the United Kingdom (U.K.) overseas territories of South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands (SGSSI) is undertaken to estimate the importance of the islands in terms of marine conservation in the Southern Ocean and globally. The economy and management of SGSSI are also analysed, and the question of whether the islands already have sufficient protection to constitute part of an Antarctic network of MPAs is assessed. The SGSSI comprise unique geological and physical features, a diverse marine biota, including a significant proportion of endemic species and globally important breeding populations of marine predators. Regardless of past exploitation of biotic resources, such as seals, whales and finfish, SGSSI would make a significant contribution to biological diversity in an Antarctic network of MPAs. At present, conservation measures do not adequately protect all of the biological features that render the islands so important in terms of conservation at a regional and global level. However, a general lack of data on Antarctic marine ecosystems (particularly needed for SGSSSI) makes it difficult to assess this fully. One barrier to achieving more complete protection is the continuing emphasis on fishing effort in these waters by U.K. government. Other non-U.K. Antarctic overseas territories of conservation importance are also compromised as MPAs because of the exploitation of fisheries resources in their waters. The possible non-use values of SGSSI as well as the importance of ecosystem services that are indirectly used by people are outlined in this review. Technology is improving the potential for management of remote MPAs, particularly in the context of incursion by illegal fishing activities and use of satellite surveillance for enforcement of fisheries and conservation regulations. The conflict between commercial exploitation and conservation of Antarctic marine living resources is explored.

No-take marine reserves and illegal fishing under imperfect enforcement

No-take marine reserves have been increasingly advocated as an effective means of supporting marine ecosystems and conserving fisheries resources. A major problem that can hinder the effectiveness of no-take reserves is the incidence of illegal fishing, which has created significant ecological and economic losses in global fisheries. We construct a bioeconomic model to explore the connection between the effects of notake reserves and illegal fishing activities in relation to the level of regulatory control of illegal activities in the reserve and fished areas. Our parameterised model shows that the effects of no-take reserves on both the extent of illegal fishing and the fish biomass critically depend on illegal fishing regulations and the scale and patterns of fish dispersal. In a fishery where illegal fishing can only be partially controlled, increasing the size of the no-take reserve may result in a lose-lose situation in which the level of illegal fishing effort increases and the total biomass decreases. Our results further show that when the pattern of fish dispersal is density dependent, imposing a stricter control on illegal fishing in either reserves or fished areas increases the aggregate level of illegal fishing.

Preventing illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing: A situational approach

Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing is a significant problem that affects the marine ecosystem and those who depend on it for survival. Research and theory in criminology can shed light on the problem and suggest policy instruments to reduce IUU fishing. Informed by rational choice theory and situational crime prevention framework, this study examines the relationship between local situational factors and illegal fishing in 53 countries. Results suggest that a country’s risk of illegal fishing is positively related to the number of commercially significant species found within its territorial waters and its proximity to known ports of convenience. Countries that exercise effective fisheries management and have strong patrol surveillance capacity experience less illegal fishing activity within their territorial waters. The presence of legally fishing vessels does not deter illegal fishing activity. These findings demonstrate the utility of thinking about illegal fishing through the lens of criminology, which is equipped with practical tools to address the problem. Findings suggest a dialogue between criminologists and conservationists to work together to address similar problems affecting the environment.

PENEGAKAN HUKUM YANG BERORIENTASI PADA KEBERLANJUTAN SUMBER DAYA IKAN

Area of Indonesia consists of 80% water, which contains abundance of potential fish resources, Those fish resources should be utilized for as much as prosperity and welfare for Indonesian. In fact, fish resources haven’t enhanced the living standard, which is sustainable and equitable. Issues on fisheries come up such as exaggeration of fishing, theft fish, illegal fishing activities and the use of fish resources that exceeding the generation of fish itself. That circumstance will cause harm for the state, the fishermen, as well as people in general. The use of tools that harm the nature will cause the decrease of fish resources and threat the sustainability of fish resources. The aim of writing this article is to analyze law enforcement related to the sustainability of fish resources and the sustainability of fish resources, viewed from the perspective of justice. As the result of the study, law enforcement to protect the fish resources generally has not given attention to the sustainability of fish resources, therefore fishermen still use unfriendly tools to catch the fishes. Those unfriendly tools will cause the occurrence of over-fishing and will impact to the environmental damages. Those kinds of things will destruct the fishes, therefore the quantity of fish will have deteriorated and even could be extinct. Those environmental damages would suffer the present generation as well as the next generation since they couldn’t consume fish which is very essential for the growth of the human body and eradicate the job for the people as the fishermen. The present generation will be sinful if the next generation will get the impact of what the present generation done. In order to reduce more over-fishing activities and the distrust of the fish habitat it needs the law enforcement, which is oriented to the sustainability of fish resources. The sustainability of fishery resources couldn’t maintain its existence, this could be seen as the symbol of environmental damages. In this case, the law also needs to make integration of fish resources sustainability to be processed so that it will result output law enforcement which is oriented to fish resources sustainability. As a conclusion, in law enforcement oriented to fish resources sustainability, it needs to be thought by the lawmaker to embed that the law should contain idea or concept about justice, legal certainty, the significance of fish resources and the implementation of the law itself. In the fish resources utilization and law enforcements, it needs to pay attention to the justice principle; intergenerational equity; intergenerational equity; precautionary; conservation of biological diversity; conservation of biological diversity.

Estimates of illegal and unreported fish in seafood imports to the USA

Illegal and unreported catches represented 20–32% by weight of wild-caught seafood imported to the USA in 2011, as determined from robust estimates, including uncertainty, of illegal and unreported fishing activities in the source countries. These illegal imports are valued at between $1.3 and $2.1 billion, out of a total of $16.5 billion for the 2.3 million tonnes of edible seafood imports, including farmed products. This trade represents between 4% and 16% of the value of the global illegal fish catch and reveals the unintentional role of the USA, one of the largest seafood markets in the world, in funding the profits of illegal fishing. Supply chain case studies are presented for tuna, wild shrimp and Chinese re-processed Russian pollock, salmon and crab imported to the USA. To address this critical issue of unintended financing of illegal fishing, possible remedies from industry practices and government policies may include improved chain of custody and traceability controls and an amendment to the USA Lacey Act.

Thirty years of coral reef change in relation to coastal construction and increased sedimentation at Pelekane Bay, Hawaiʻi

Coral reefs are being critically impacted by anthropogenic processes throughout the world. Long term monitoring is essential to the understanding of coral reef response to human impacts and the effectiveness of corrective management efforts. Here we reevaluated a valuable coral reef baseline established in Pelekane Bay, Hawaiʻi during 1976 and subsequently resurveyed in 1996. During this time interval substantial impacts occurred followed by extensive corrective measures. Coral and fish communities showed dramatic declines from 1977 to 1996 due to massive harbor construction and suboptimal land management practices on the watershed. More recently, corrective measures in the form of watershed stabilization and fishing regulations have been implemented. Consequently our 2012 survey reveals that coral cover since 1996 has increased slightly accompanied by a significant increase in fish abundance, diversity, and evenness. This improvement can be attributed to lower fishing pressure since 1996 due to reduced shoreline access, tighter fishing regulations and increased monitoring of legal and illegal fishing activities. Stabilization of the coral community can be attributed partially to reduced sedimentation resulting from watershed restoration that included installation of sediment check dams, control of feral ungulates, controlled grazing and replanting of native vegetation. Insights into the mechanism that removes sediment from reefs was provided by a major storm event and a tsunami that remobilized and flushed out sediment deposits. The increase in herbivorous fishes probably played a role in reducing algal competition in favor of corals. The data suggest that the precipitous reef decline in this area has been arrested and offers support for the corrective actions previously undertaken.

Fisheries catch misreporting and its implications: The case of Senegal

The marine resources in Senegal are still relatively abundant, and Senegalese fisheries generate a high economic value for local communities. These fisheries are characterized by a large number of distant-water fleets alternating between legal and illegal operations, depending on circumstances, and a rapid increase of artisanal fishing effort. The extent of the impact of artisanal fisheries on fisheries resources and the Senegalese economy is as poorly known as is the level of illegal unreported and unregulated (IUU) industrial fishing. The former relies on official surveys and voluntary reports by fishers, while the existence of the latter was largely denied in the past. Large and frequent ‘migrations’ (i.e., incursions into the waters of neighbouring countries) by Senegalese artisanal fishers, under-estimation of fishing effort and increasing conflicts over fisheries suggest that officially reported catch data do not reflect reality. A thorough literature review, experts and industry consultations were used to reconstruct Senegalese fisheries catch data. Official national data were compared to the data supplied to FAO and adjusted from 1950 to 2010. Reported and missing sub-sectors, including artisanal catches within and outside Senegalese waters, non-commercial sub-sectors, and industrial catches by the legal and illegal fleets, were conservatively re-assessed. The impacts of the intensive illegal fishing activities on artisanal fisheries and the economy were investigated. The results showed substantial under-reporting, ranging from 4 times higher than the official data in the past to about 1.6 times recently. Artisanal fisheries, according to official data, were responsible for 50% of total extractions, as opposed to 80% 20 years ago. However, while catches by migrant fishers increased dramatically, artisanal catches from Senegalese waters decreased despite an increasing effort, suggesting over-capacity. IUU catches, which were worth around $ 300 million US annually, whether transhipped or otherwise spirited out of Senegalese waters, or discarded, represent a huge loss to Senegal. Also, the foreign fleet, illegally exploiting Senegalese fisheries resources, impact strongly on the migrations of Senegalese artisanal fishers, who in turn increase their migrations as an adaptation strategy to meet their need for fish in the face of rapid resource depletion.

A decade of illegal fishing in Table Mountain National Park (2000–2009): trends in the illicit harvest of abalone Haliotis midae and West Coast rock lobster Jasus lalandii

Illegal fishing activities are reported to be on the increase in South Africa, including in its marine protected areas (MPAs). Research is presented on the nature and the scale of illegal fishing in Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) by analysing the numbers of abalone Haliotis midae and West Coast rock lobster Jasus lalandii confiscated from fishers operating in the park's marine protected area between 2000 and 2009. Data were collected from offence logbooks maintained by South African National Parks rangers and managers, the South African Police Services, and interviews with alleged or self-confessed illegal fishers. The research findings indicate that the annual numbers of illegally fished abalone and rock lobsters have increased significantly over time. Spatial analysis suggests that confiscations of abalone occur predominantly on the east coast of the park, whereas higher confiscations of illegally fished rock lobsters occur on the west coast. It is clear from this research that new and more efficient approaches will need to be designed and implemented to minimise illegal fishing in the TMNP MPA. Context-specific conservation targets that acknowledge and integrate social as well as developmental needs are required, and may be essential for limiting biodiversity loss in the longer term, which will ultimately ensure the success of fisheries management and conservation in TMNP.

Status, trends and challenges in the sustainability of small-scale fisheries in the Philippines: Insights from FISHDA (Fishing Industries' Support in Handling Decisions Application) model

Managing small-scale fisheries in a developing country like the Philippines is very challenging because of high pressures from expanding fishing population, poverty and lack of alternative options. Thus, resource-focused fisheries management initiatives such as marine protected area (MPA) establishment will likely result in further marginalization of the poor fishers which could pose more serious problems in coastal communities. In this study, the status of small-scale fisheries in 44 coastal towns in the Philippines was assessed using FISHDA (Fishing Industries' Support in Handling Decisions Application), a simple decision support tool which requires minimal or easily-generated data. Results showed that 68% (30 out of 44) of the studied towns have unsustainable fisheries unless 58% of their fishing grounds are protected from all fishing activities. Alternatively, 53% of the active fishers in towns with unsustainable fisheries must totally stop fishing to avert fishery collapse. Alarming as it may sound, this is still an underestimate as catches incurred by the highly efficient and destructive illegal fishing activities such as blast, poison and large-scale fishing, which are reported to be still rampant in many coastal areas in the Philippines, were not accounted for in this study. This study demonstrated that MPAs alone may not be enough to avert fishery collapse even if MPA size is increased from the current 3% to 15% of the municipal waters, i.e. up to 15km from the shore, as required by the Philippine law. Various challenges confronting the fishery and important recommendations to address them are further discussed.