On the Archipelagic Ecology and the Economy of the Philippines

This policy note underscores that while Philippine marine ecosystems are among the world's richest in life forms and of high socioeconomic importance to Filipinos, these are highly threatened. Among the most serious threats are the combinations of overfishing; illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing; habitat destruction; increased demand for fisheries; and climate change. Probably the most serious threat is the “policy blindness” of the country to its vast and rich ecosystem services. Three policy actions are then proposed, effectively urging for national policies and regulations that will heighten the protection and security of all Philippine terrestrial and aquatic life forms and their genetic information from internal and external threats.