Small-scale fisheries (SSF) play a vital role in the Philippines’ food security, livelihoods, and local economies, with municipal fishing contributing significantly to the country’s overall fish production. Despite their importance, small-scale fishers continue to face challenges such as declining fish catch, climate change vulnerability, displacement, poverty, and limited access to fishing grounds. Recognizing the need to strengthen policies and institutional mechanisms supporting SSF, the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD), in partnership with the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV), implemented the project, “Assessing and Accelerating: Towards the Full Implementation of the FAO Small-Scale Fisheries Guidelines in the Philippines.”
The project assessed the alignment of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (FAO-SSF Guidelines) with national and local fisheries policies. It also examined the institutional mechanisms supporting their implementation; assessed stakeholder awareness of the guidelines; identified facilitating and hindering factors affecting implementation, and developed policy and institutional mechanisms to support their adoption from the national to local levels.
The study found that although policies supporting small-scale fisheries are already in place, significant gaps remain in their implementation at the local level. These include weak institutional coordination, limited stakeholder participation, inadequate enforcement capacity, and insufficient localization of the FAO-SSF Guidelines. It also underscored the importance of addressing the low awareness of the Guidelines among fisherfolk, fisherfolk leaders, and local implementers, particularly in translating the National Plan of Action for Small-Scale Fisheries (NPOA-SSF) into localized policies, ordinances, and development plans.
Among the key recommendations discussed during the review was the need to establish clearer and more specific policy pathways for implementing the FAO-SSF Guidelines. Evaluators recommended strengthening the assessment of policy alignment by clearly presenting the criteria used to classify alignment as strong or moderate, as well as identifying specific provisions of the Fisheries Code that could support implementation. The project was also encouraged to develop policy briefs and other knowledge products that clearly communicate the proposed policy language for consideration by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and other concerned stakeholders.
At the national level, the project proposed mechanisms such as the establishment of a multi-sectoral National Technical Working Group on SSF implementation, strengthened inter-agency convergence, operationalization of the NPOA-SSF through dedicated resources and local planning mechanisms, empowerment of fisherfolk organizations, and a stronger role for the National Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (NFARMC) in mainstreaming SSF concerns into national policies.
At the local level, recommendations included integrating NPOA-SSF principles into local fisheries ordinances and development plans, strengthening inter-LGU alliances, improving municipal water delineation, and enhancing community-based dispute resolution mechanisms.
These accomplishments and recommendations were discussed during the terminal review conducted on July 20, 2026 led by DOST-PCAARRD’s Socio-Economics Research Division (SERD). The review was attended by the project team led by Dr. Alice Joan G. Ferrer, external evaluators Dr. Mudjekeewis D. Santos and Dr. Jose A. Ingles, and representatives from DOST-PCAARRD, including Ms. Monica B. Castillo of SERD, with representatives from the Marine Resources Research Division (MRRD) and the Office of the Executive Director - Research and Development (OED-RD).
The review also emphasized the importance of addressing municipal water delineation and inter-local government unit (LGU) cooperation, which remain critical challenges in fisheries governance. Evaluators recommended developing concrete policy options, including a policy paper on inter-LGU alliances, to address unresolved boundary issues and promote fisheries management beyond administrative boundaries. The project also recommended strengthening inter-LGU fisheries alliances and co-management arrangements to support ecosystem-based fisheries governance and protect the tenure rights of small-scale fishers.
The project further identified the importance of strengthening awareness campaigns, fisherfolk registries, the role of higher education institutions in research and capacity building, social protection for fishers, gender and youth participation in fisheries governance, fisherfolk cooperatives, access to finance and markets, and climate adaptation measures. These recommendations aim to create an enabling environment where small-scale fishers can meaningfully participate in fisheries governance while strengthening the sustainability and resilience of fisheries-dependent communities.
Ultimately, the project contributes to advancing the implementation of the FAO-SSF Guidelines by providing evidence-based policy and institutional recommendations that can help bridge the gap between national policy commitments and local-level action. The terminal review highlighted opportunities for DOST-PCAARRD and its partners to further support policy advocacy, knowledge generation, and stakeholder engagement toward more inclusive, participatory, and sustainable small-scale fisheries governance in the Philippines. The project team committed to incorporating the evaluators’ recommendations into the revised terminal report and succeeding policy outputs.