Documentary Practice & Photojournalism: Hannah Reyes Morales
See a selection of images from Hannah Reyes Morales.
Caption
Slide 25 of 165
Cities Made of Water
September 21, 2015
Fishermen work in a local commercial fishing boat in the middle of the night in Kalibo, Philippines, using lights to attract fish towards their waiting nets. Members of the crew, who make approximately 35 USD per month, have expressed their desire to work on a larger fishing vessel for the promise of a higher income despite stories of fellow fishermen about the forms of abuse that happen on such vessels. Commercial fishing boats often work in municipal waters close to shore, an illegal practice that is often permitted by poor municipalities for a fee. This extensive overfishing means that subsistence fisherfolk often don't catch enough to feed their families, and fish populations don't get the chance to recover. Thus, the need for marine protected areas and seasonal fishing closures, which help to increase marine biomass. Fisherfolk are among the poorest and most marginalized communities in the Philippines. With the Philippines the third most vulnerable country to climate change, these fisherfolk, who are the least responsible for causing the worsening climate crisis, are also the most vulnerable to its disastrous consequences such as rising sea levels, storm surges, and coastline erosion.