Environmental advocates and fisherfolk organizations marked World Fisheries Day on Thursday by calling for urgent measures to protect marine biodiversity, just days before the conclusion of the 29th UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Dubai.

The groups highlighted the critical role of oceans in sustaining the Philippines, an archipelagic nation, and warned that fossil fuel developments are threatening marine ecosystems and the livelihoods of coastal communities.

“The Philippines relies heavily on its fisheries sector for food and livelihood. With the increasing threats to our oceans, fisherfolk and coastal communities are also at risk,” said Gerry Arances, Executive Director of the Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development (CEED). 

“This World Fisheries Day, we stand in solidarity with communities bearing the brunt of marine pollution, biodiversity loss, and worsening climate disasters,” he added. 

The advocates used the global climate summit as a platform to urge world leaders to prioritize vulnerable countries in the Global South. 

They pressed for stronger commitments to biodiversity protection and a transition away from fossil fuels.

“As COP29 nears its end, we are urging world leaders to prioritize biodiversity and vulnerable communities in the anticipated climate finance agreements and to follow through with commitments to phase out fossil fuels,” Arances said.

A CEED study identified the Verde Island Passage (VIP), one of the world’s most critical marine biodiversity hotspots, as the epicenter of fossil gas expansion in the Philippines. 

The area currently hosts five fossil gas plants and two operating liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals, with plans for 10 more fossil gas plants and three additional LNG terminals.

Fisherfolk leaders in VIP provinces expressed dismay at the continued exploitation of marine resources.

“It is disappointing that while we celebrate World Fisheries Day, the ocean, which is our source of livelihood, is being destroyed by fossil fuel developments,” said Maximo Bayubay, Vice President for External Affairs of Bukluran ng Mangingisda sa Batangas (BMB). 

“We, fisherfolk depending on the VIP for our living, are at great risk as these projects continue. We hope our voices will be heard, and that our oceans and communities will be prioritized,” he added.

The Philippines has been battered by six typhoons since late October, including four this month alone—a phenomenon not seen since 1951, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. 

Advocates said these weather events underscore the nation’s vulnerability to the climate crisis.

“The recent typhoons that devastated the Philippines are proof of how vulnerable we are in this worsening climate crisis,” said Dario Magason, a council member of Burubligay han Gudti Nga Mangirisda ha Sinirangan Bisayas (BUGSAY), a coalition of fisherfolk in Leyte. 

He emphasized that the devastating impact of Typhoon Yolanda 11 years ago should have served as a wake-up call, but the lessons remain unheeded. Harmful practices, such as the continued reliance on fossil fuels, persist in polluting the oceans and exacerbating climate-related disasters. 

He stressed the urgent need for action to safeguard both communities and marine ecosystems from further harm.

The groups stressed that the outcomes of COP29 should reflect the urgency of the climate crisis. They called on global leaders to address the interconnected challenges of marine biodiversity loss, fossil fuel dependency, and climate vulnerability, emphasizing that the protection of oceans is not just a local issue but a global imperative.