Southeast Asia’s geography has made seafood a staple in everyday life. But the region’s rich marine resources are under growing pressure. A 2023 report by Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Sustainable Marine Fisheries Resource Management, estimated that Southeast Asia is losing up to 7.5 million tons of fish each year—translating to around USD 22.5 billion in economic losses. The main culprits: climate change, chemical and plastic pollution, and the degradation of coral reefs and mangroves.
In the Philippines, one species in focus is the blue swimming crab, a key export commodity and livelihood source for many coastal communities. To protect it, the Department of Agriculture introduced a crab management plan aimed at ensuring long-term sustainability. Measures include setting minimum catch sizes, regulating fishing gear, closing crabbing seasons during breeding periods, and protecting female crabs carrying eggs.
