Philippine fisherfolk are not only among the poorest sectors in the Philippines; they are also the most vulnerable to natural hazards and extreme weather conditions. In 2020 alone, three consecutive typhoons devastated Lagonoy Gulf, heavily affecting fifteen municipalities. Whole fishing communities lost not only their homes but also their means of livelihood, their boats.
World Wide Fund (WWF) Philippines has worked with the fishers of Lagonoy Gulf for over a decade in establishing the country’s first sustainable Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)-certified handline tuna fishery. Sustainable tuna fishing is the practice in this area. They are the country’s first small-scale fishers to achieve MSC certification.
