REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES

METRO MANILA

Tenth Congress
FIFTH SPECIAL SESSION

Begun and held in Metro Manila on Tuesday the seventeenth day of February,
nineteen hundred and ninety-eight

[REPUBLIC ACT No. 8550]

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT, MANAGEMENT AND

CONSERVATION OF THE FISHERIES AND AQUATIC RESOURCES,
INTEGRATING ALL LAWS PERTINENT THERETO, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in

Congress assembled

SECTION 1. Title. — This Act shall be known as “The Philippine Fisheries Code
of 1998.”

CHAPTER I

Declaration of Policy and Definitions

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby declared the policy of the State:

a. to achieve food security as the overriding consideration in the utilization,

management, development, conservation and protection of fishery resources in
order to provide the food needs of the population. A flexible policy towards the
attainment of food security shall be adopted in response to changes in
demographic trends for fish, emerging trends in the trade of fish and other aquatic
products in domestic and international markets, and the law of supply and
demand;

b. to limit access to the fishery and aquatic resources of the Philippines for
the exclusive use and enjoyment of Filipino citizens;

c. to ensure the rational and sustainable development, management and

conservation of the fishery and aquatic resources in Philippine waters including
the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and in the adjacent high seas, consistent
with the primordial objective of maintaining a sound ecological balance, protecting
and enhancing the quality of the environment;

d. to protect the rights of fisherfolk, especially of the local communities with

priority to municipal fisherfolk, in the preferential use of the municipal waters.
Such preferential use, shall be based on, but not limited to, Maximum Sustainable
Yield (MSY) or Total Allowable Catch (TAC) on the basis of resources and
ecological conditions, and shall be consistent with our commitments under
international treaties and agreements;

e. to provide support to the fishery sector, primarily to the municipal

fisherfolk, including women and youth sectors, through appropriate technology
and research, adequate financial, production, construction of post-harvest
facilities, marketing assistance, and other services. The protection of municipal
fisherfolk against foreign intrusion shall extend to offshore fishing grounds.
Fishworkers shall receive a just share for their labor in the utilization of marine
and fishery resources;

f. to manage fishery and aquatic resources, in a manner consistent with

the concept of an integrated coastal area management in specific natural fishery
management areas, appropriately supported by research, technical services and
guidance provided by the State; and

g. to grant the private sector the privilege to utilize fishery resources under
the basic concept that the grantee, licensee or permittee thereof shall not only be
a privileged beneficiary of the State but also active participant and partner of the
Government in the sustainable development, management, conservation and
protection of the fishery and aquatic resources of the country.

The state shall ensure the attainment of the following objectives of the fishery
sector:

1. Conservation, protection and sustained management of the country’s

fishery and aquatic resources;

2. Poverty alleviation and the provision of supplementary livelihood among

municipal fisherfolk;

3. Improvement of productivity of aquaculture within ecological limits;

4. Optimal utilization of offshore and deep-sea resources; and

5. Upgrading of post-harvest technology.

SECTION 3. Application of its Provisions. — The provisions of this Code shall be

enforced in:
a. all Philippine waters including other waters over which the Philippines
has sovereignty and jurisdiction, and the country’s 200-nautical mile Exclusive
Economic Zone (EEZ) and continental shelf;

b. all aquatic and fishery resources whether inland, coastal or offshore

fishing areas, including but not limited to fishponds, fishpens/cages; and

c. all lands devoted to aquaculture, or businesses and activities relating

to fishery, whether private or public lands.

SECTION 4. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Code, the following terms and
phrases shall mean as follows:

1. Ancillary Industries — firms or companies related to the supply,

construction and maintenance of fishing vessels, gears, nets and other fishing
paraphernalia; fishery machine shops; and other facilities such as hatcheries,
nurseries, feed plants, cold storage and refrigeration, processing plants and other
pre-harvest and post-harvest facilities.

2. Appropriate Fishing Technology — adaptable technology, both in fishing

and ancillary industries, that is ecologically sound, locally source-based and labor
intensive.

3. Aquaculture — fishery operations involving all forms of raising and

culturing fish and other fishery species in fresh, brackish and marine water areas.

4. Aquatic Pollution — the introduction by human or machine, directly or

indirectly, of substances or energy to the aquatic environment which result or is
likely to result in such deleterious effects as to harm living and non-living aquatic
resources, pose potential and/or real hazard to human health, hindrance to
aquatic activities such as fishing and navigation, including dumping/disposal of
waste and other marine litters, discharge of petroleum or residual products of
petroleum or carbonaceous materials/substances, and other, radioactive, noxious
or harmful liquid, gaseous or solid substances, from any water, land or air
transport or other human-made structure. Deforestation, unsound agricultural
practices such as the use of banned chemicals and excessive use of chemicals,
intensive use of artificial fish feed, and wetland conversion, which cause similar
hazards and deleterious effects shall also constitute aquatic pollution.

5. Aquatic Resources — includes fish, all other aquatic flora and fauna and
other living resources of the aquatic environment, including, but not limited to, salt
and corals.

6. Artificial Reefs — any structure of natural or man-made materials placed

on a body of water to serve as shelter and habitat, source of food, breeding areas
for fishery species and shoreline protection.
7. Catch Ceilings — refer to the annual catch limits allowed to be taken,
gathered or harvested from any fishing area in consideration of the need to
prevent overfishing and harmful depletion of breeding stocks of aquatic
organisms.

8. Closed Season — the period during which the taking of specified fishery
species by a specified fishing gear is prohibited in a specified area or areas in
Philippine waters.

9. Coastal Area/Zone — is a band of dry land and adjacent ocean space

(water and submerged land) in which terrestrial processes and uses directly affect
oceanic processes and uses, and vice versa; its geographic extent may include
areas within a landmark limit of one (1) kilometer from the shoreline at high tide
to include mangrove swamps, brackish water ponds, nipa swamps, estuarine
rivers, sandy beaches and other areas within a seaward limit of 200 meters
isobath to include coral reefs, algal flats, seagrass beds and other soft-bottom
areas.

10. Commercial Fishing — the taking of fishery species by passive or active

gear for trade, business & profit beyond subsistence or sports fishing, to be further
classified as:

1. Small scale commercial fishing — fishing with passive or active gear

utilizing fishing vessels of 3.1 gross tons (GT) up to twenty (20) GT;

2. Medium scale commercial fishing — fishing utilizing active gears and

vessels of 20.1 GT up to one hundred fifty (150) GT; and

3. Large commercial fishing — fishing utilizing active gears and vessels of

more than one hundred fifty (150) GT.

11. Commercial Scale — a scheme of producing a minimum harvest per

hectare per year of milkfish or other species including those raised in pens, cages,
and tanks to be determined by the Department in consultation with the concerned
sectors;

12. Coral — the hard calcareous substance made up of the skeleton of

marine coelenterate polyps which include reefs, shelves and atolls or any of the
marine coelenterate animals living in colonies where their skeletons form a stony
mass. They include: (a) skeletons of anthozoan coelenterates characterized as
having a rigid axis of compact calcareous or horny spicules, belonging to the
genus corallium as represented by the red, pink, and white corals which are
considered precious corals; (b) skeletons of anthozoan coelenterates
characterized by thorny, horny axis such as the antipatharians represented by the
black corals which are considered semi-precious corals; and (c) ordinary corals
which are any kind of corals that are not precious nor semi-precious.
13. Coral Reef — a natural aggregation of coral skeleton, with or without
living coral polyps, occurring in intertidal and subtidal marine waters.

14. Demarcated Areas — boundaries defined by markers and assigned

exclusively to specific individuals or organizations for certain specified and limited
uses such as:

a. Aquaculture, sea ranching and sea farming;

b. Fish aggregating devices;

c. Fixed and passive fishing gears; and

d. Fry and fingerlings gathering.

15. Department — shall mean the Department of Agriculture.

16. Electrofishing — the use of electricity generated by batteries, electric

generators and other source of electric power to kill, stupefy, disable or render
unconscious fishery species, whether or not the same are subsequently
recovered.

17. Endangered Rare and/or Threatened Species — aquatic plants,

animals, including some varieties of corals and sea shells in danger of extinction
as provided for in existing fishery laws, rules and regulations or in the Protected
Areas and Wildlife Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources (DENR) and in the Convention on the International Trade of
Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES).

18. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) — an area beyond and adjacent to the
territorial sea which shall not extend beyond 200 nautical miles from the baselines
as defined under existing laws.

19. FARMCs — the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management

Councils.

20. Farm-to-Market Roads — shall include roads linking the fisheries

production sites, coastal landing points and other post-harvest facilities to major
market and arterial roads and highways.

21. Fine Mesh Net — net with mesh size of less than three centimeters (3
cm.) measured between two (2) opposite knots of a full mesh when stretched or
as otherwise determined by the appropriate government agency.

22. Fish and Fishery/Aquatic Products — include not only finfish but also
mollusks, crustaceans, echinoderms, marine mammals, and all other species of
aquatic flora and fauna and all other products of aquatic living resources in any
form.

23. Fish Cage — refers to an enclosure which is either stationary or floating

made up of nets or screens sewn or fastened together and installed in the water
with opening at the surface or covered and held in a place by wooden/bamboo
posts or various types of anchors and floats.

24. Fish Corral or “Baklad” — a stationary weir or trap devised to intercept

and capture fish consisting of rows of bamboo stakes, plastic nets and other
materials fenced with split bamboo mattings or wire mattings with one or more
enclosures, usually with easy entrance but difficult exit, and with or without
leaders to direct the fish to the catching chambers, purse or bags.

25. Fish fingerlings — a stage in the life cycle of the fish measuring to about
6-13 cm. depending on the species.

26. Fish fry — a stage at which a fish has just been hatched usually with
sizes from 1-2.5 cm.

27. Fish pen — an artificial enclosure constructed within a body of water for
culturing fish and fishery/aquatic resources made up of poles closely arranged in
an enclosure with wooden materials, screen or nylon netting to prevent escape of
fish.

28. Fisherfolk — people directly or personally and physically engaged in

taking and/or culturing and processing fishery and/or aquatic resources.

29. Fisherfolk Cooperative — a duly registered association of fisherfolk with

a common bond of interest, who have voluntarily joined together to achieve a
lawful common social or economic end, making equitable contribution to the
capital requirement and accepting a fair share of the risks and benefits of the
undertakings in accordance with universally accepted cooperative principles.

30. Fisherfolk Organization — an organized group, association, federation,

alliance or an institution of fisherfolk which has at least fifteen (15) members, a
set of officers, a constitution and by-laws, an organizational structure and a
program of action.

31. Fisheries — refers to all activities relating to the act or business of

fishing, culturing, preserving, processing, marketing, developing, conserving and
managing aquatic resources and the fishery areas, including the privilege to fish
or take aquatic resource thereof.

32. Fish Pond — a land-based facility enclosed with earthen or stone

material to impound water for growing fish.
33. Fishing Boat/Gear License — a permit to operate specific types of
fishing boat/gear for specific duration in areas beyond municipal waters for
demersal or pelagic fishery resources.

34. Fishery Management Areas — a bay, gulf, lake or any other fishery area
which may be delineated for fishery resource management purposes.

35. Fishery Operator — one who owns and provides the means including
land, labor, capital, fishing gears and vessels, but does not personally engage in
fishery.

36. Fishery Refuge and Sanctuaries — a designated area where fishing or

other forms of activities which may damage the ecosystem of the area is
prohibited and human access may be restricted.

37. Fishery Reserve — a designated area where activities are regulated

and set aside for educational and research purposes.

38. Fishery Species — all aquatic flora and fauna including, but not
restricted to, fish, algae, coelenterates, mollusks, crustaceans, echinoderms and
cetaceans.

39. Fishing — the taking of fishery species from their wild state of habitat,
with or without the use of fishing vessels.

40. Fishing gear — any instrument or device and its accessories utilized in
taking fish and other fishery species.

a. Active fishing gear — is a fishing device characterized by gear

movements, and/or the pursuit of the target species by towing, lifting, and pushing
the gears, surrounding, covering, dredging, pumping and scaring the target
species to impoundments; such as, but not limited to, trawl, purse seines, Danish
seines, bag nets, paaling, drift gill net and tuna longline.

b. Passive fishing gear — is characterized by the absence of gear

movements and/or the pursuit of the target species; such as, but not limited to,
hook and line, fishpots, traps and gill nets across the path of the fish.

41. Fishing vessel — any boat, ship or other watercraft equipped to be used
for taking of fishery species or aiding or assisting one (1) or more vessels in the
performance of any activity relating to fishing, including, but not limited to,
preservation, supply, storage, refrigeration, transportation and/or processing.

42. Fishing with Explosives — the use of the dynamite, other explosives or
other chemical compounds that contain combustible elements or ingredients
which upon ignition by friction, concussion, percussion or detonation of all or parts
of the compound, will kill, stupefy, disable or render unconscious any fishery
species. It also refers to the use of any other substance and/or device which
causes an explosion that is capable of producing the said harmful effects on any
fishery species and aquatic resources and capable of damaging and altering the
natural habitat.

43. Fishing with Noxious or Poisonous Substances — the use of any

substance, plant extracts or juice thereof, sodium cyanide and/or cyanide
compounds or other chemicals either in a raw or processed form, harmful or
harmless to human beings, which will kill, stupefy, disable or render unconscious
any fishery species and aquatic resources and capable of damaging and altering
the natural habitat.

44. Fishworker — a person regularly or not regularly employed in

commercial fishing and related industries, whose income is either in wage, profit-
sharing or stratified sharing basis, including those working in fish pens, fish cages,
fish corrals/traps, fishponds, prawn farms, sea farms, salt beds, fish ports, fishing
boat or trawlers, or fish processing and/or packing plants. Excluded from this
category are administrators, security guards and overseers.

45. Food Security — refers to any plan, policy or strategy aimed at ensuring
adequate supplies of appropriate food at affordable prices. Food security may be
achieved through self-sufficiency (i.e. ensuring adequate food supplies from
domestic production), through self-reliance (i.e. ensuring adequate food supplies
through a combination of domestic production and importation), or through pure
importation.

46. Foreshore Land — a string of land margining a body of water; the part
of a seashore between the low-water line usually at the seaward margin of a low
tide terrace and the upper limit of wave wash at high tide usually marked by a
beach scarp or berm.

47. Fully-developed Fishpond Area — a clean leveled area enclosed by

dikes, at least one foot higher than the highest floodwater level in the locality and
strong enough to resist pressure at the highest flood tide; consists of at least a
nursery pond, a transition pond, a rearing pond or a combination of any or all said
classes of ponds, and a functional water control system and producing in a
commercial scale.

48. Gross Tonnage — includes the underdeck tonnage, permanently

enclosed spaces above the tonnage deck, except for certain exemptions. In broad
terms, all the vessel’s ‘closed-in’ spaces expressed in volume terms on the bases
of one hundred cubic feet (that equals one gross ton).

49. Inland Fishery — the freshwater fishery and brackishwater fishponds.

50. Lake — an inland body of water, an expanded part of a river, a reservoir
formed by a dam, or a lake basin intermittently or formerly covered by water.

51. Limited Access — a fishery policy by which a system of equitable

resource and allocation is established by law through fishery rights granting and
licensing procedure as provided by this Code.

52. Mangroves — a community of intertidal plants including all species of

trees, shrubs, vines and herbs found on coasts, swamps, or border of swamps.

53. Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) — is the largest average quantity of

fish that can be harvested from a fish stocks/resource within a period of time (e.g.
one year) on a sustainable basis under existing environmental conditions.

54. Migratory species — refers to any fishery species which in the course
of their life could travel from freshwater to marine water or vice versa, or any
marine species which travel over great distances in waters of the ocean as part
of their behavioral adaptation for survival and speciation:

(a) Anadromous species — marine fishes which migrate to freshwater areas

to spawn;

(b) Catadromous species — freshwater fishes which migrate to marine

areas to spawn.

55. Monitoring, control and surveillance —

a. Monitoring — the requirement of continuously observing: (1) fishing

effort which can be expressed by the number of days or hours of fishing, number
of fishing gears and number of fisherfolk; (2) characteristics of fishery resources;
and (3) resource yields (catch);

b. Control — the regulatory conditions (legal framework) under which the

exploitation, utilization and disposition of the resources may be conducted; and

c. Surveillance — the degree and types of observations required to

maintain compliance with regulations.

56. Municipal fisherfolk — persons who are directly or indirectly engaged in

municipal fishing and other related fishing activities.

57. Municipal fishing — refers to fishing within municipal waters using

fishing vessels of three (3) gross tons or less, or fishing not requiring the use of
fishing vessels.
58. Municipal waters — include not only streams, lakes, inland bodies of
water and tidal waters within the municipality which are not included within the
protected areas as defined under Republic Act No. 7586 (The NIPAS Law), public
forest, timber lands, forest reserves or fishery reserves, but also marine waters
included between two (2) lines drawn perpendicular to the general coastline from
points where the boundary lines of the municipality touch the sea at low tide and
a third line parallel with the general coastline including offshore islands and fifteen
(15) kilometers from such coastline. Where two (2) municipalities are so situated
on opposite shores that there is less than thirty (30) kilometers of marine waters
between them, the third line shall be equally distant from opposite shore of the
respective municipalities.

59. Non-governmental organization (NGO) — an agency, institution, a

foundation or a group of persons whose purpose is to assist peoples
organizations/associations in various ways including, but not limited to,
organizing, education, training, research and/or resource accessing.

60. Payao — a fish aggregating device consisting of a loating raft anchored

by a weighted line with suspended materials such as palm fronds to attract pelagic
and schooling species common in deep waters.

61. Pearl Farm Lease — public waters leased for the purpose of producing
cultured pearls.

62. People’s Organization — a bona fide association of citizens with

demonstrated capacity to promote the public interest and with identifiable
leadership, membership and structure. Its members belong to a sector/s who
voluntarily band themselves together to work for and by themselves for their own
upliftment, development and greater good.

63. Person — natural or juridical entities such as individuals, associations,

partnership, cooperatives or corporations.

64. Philippine waters — include all bodies of water within the Philippine
territory such as lakes, rivers, streams, creeks, brooks, ponds, swamps, lagoons,
gulfs, bays and seas and other bodies of water now existing or which may
hereafter exist in the provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays and the
waters around, between and connecting the islands of the archipelago regardless
of their breadth and dimensions, the territorial sea, the sea beds, the insular
shelves, and all other waters over which the Philippines has sovereignty and
jurisdiction including the 200-nautical miles Exclusive Economic Zone and the
continental shelf.

65. Post-harvest facilities — these facilities include, but are not limited to,
fishport, fishlanding, ice plants and cold storages, fish processing plants.
66. Purse Seine — a form of encircling net having a line at the bottom
passing through rings attached to the net, which can be drawn or pursed. In
general, the net is set from a boat or pair of boats around the school of fish. The
bottom of the net is pulled closed with the purse line. The net is then pulled aboard
the fishing boat or boats until the fish are concentrated in the bunt or fish bag.

67. Resource Rent — the difference between the value of the products
produced from harvesting a publicly owned resource less the cost of producing it,
where cost includes the normal return to capital and normal return to labor.

68. Sea farming — the stocking of natural or hatchery-produced marine

plants or animals, under controlled conditions, for purposes of rearing and
harvesting, but not limited to commercially-important fishes, mollusks (such as
pearl and giant clam culture), including seaweeds and seagrasses.

69. Sea ranching — the release of the young of fishery species reared in
hatcheries and nurseries into natural bodies of water for subsequent harvest at
maturity or the manipulation of fishery habitat, to encourage the growth of the wild
stocks.

70. Secretary — the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture.

71. Superlight — also called magic light, is a type of light using halogen or
metal halide bulb which may be located above the sea surface or submerged in
the water. It consists of a ballast, regulator, electric cable and socket. The source
of energy comes from a generator, battery or dynamo coupled with the main
engine.

72. Total Allowable Catch (TAC) — the maximum harvest allowed to be

taken during a given period of time from any fishery area, or from any fishery
species or group of fishery species, or a combination of area and species and
normally would not exceed the MSY.

73. Trawl — an active fishing gear consisting of a bag shaped net with or
without otter boards to open its opening which is dragged or towed along the
bottom or through the water column to take fishery species by straining them from
the water, including all variations and modifications of trawls (bottom, mid-water,
and baby trawls) and tow nets.

CHAPTER II

Utilization, Management, Development, Conservation and

Allocation System of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources

SECTION 5. Use of Philippine Waters. — The use and exploitation of the fishery
and aquatic resources in Philippine waters shall be reserved exclusively to
Filipinos: Provided, however, That research and survey activities may be allowed
under strict regulations, for purely research, scientific, technological and
educational purposes that would also benefit Filipino citizens.

SECTION 6. Fees and Other Fishery Charges. — The rentals for fishpond areas
covered by the Fishpond Lease Agreement (FLA) and license fees for
Commercial Fishing Boat Licenses (CFBL) shall be set at levels that reflect
resource rent accruing from the utilization of resources and shall be determined
by the Department: Provided, That the Department shall also prescribe fees and
other fishery charges and issue the corresponding license or permit for fishing
gear, fishing accessories and other fishery activities beyond the municipal waters:
Provided, further, That the license fees of fishery activity in municipal waters shall
be determined by the Local Government Units (LGUs) in consultation with the
FARMCs. The FARMCs may also recommend the appropriate license fees that
will be imposed.

SECTION 7. Access to Fishery Resources. — The Department shall issue such

number of licenses and permits for the conduct of fishery activities subject to the
limits of the MSY of the resource as determined by scientific studies or best
available evidence. Preference shall be given to resource users in the local
communities adjacent or nearest to the municipal waters.

SECTION 8. Catch Ceiling Limitations. — The Secretary may prescribe

limitations or quota on the total quantity of fish captured, for a specified period of
time and specified area based on the best available evidence. Such a catch
ceiling may be imposed per species of fish whenever necessary and practicable:
Provided, however, That in municipal waters and fishery management areas, and
waters under the jurisdiction of special agencies, catch ceilings may be
established upon the concurrence and approval or recommendation of such
special agency and the concerned LGU in consultation with the FARMC for
conservation or ecological purposes.

SECTION 9. Establishment of Closed Season. — The Secretary may declare,

through public notice in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation or in
public service announcements, whichever is applicable, at least five (5) days
before the declaration, a closed season in any or all Philippine waters outside the
boundary of municipal waters and in bays, for conservation and ecological
purposes. The Secretary may include waters under the jurisdiction of special
agencies, municipal waters and bays, and/or other areas reserved for the use of
the municipal fisherfolk in the area to be covered by the closed season: Provided,
however, That this shall be done only upon the concurrence and approval or
recommendation of such special agency and the concerned LGU and FARMC:
Provided, further, That in municipal waters, fishery management areas and other
areas reserved for the use of the municipal fisherfolk, closed season may be
established by the concerned LGU in consultation with the FARMC for
conservation or ecological purposes. The FARMCs may also recommend the
establishment of closed seasons in municipal waters, fisheries management and
other areas reserved for the use of the municipal fisherfolk.

SECTION 10. Introduction of Foreign Aquatic Species. — No foreign finfish,

mollusk, crustacean or aquatic plants shall be introduced in Philippine waters
without a sound ecological, biological and environmental justification based on
scientific studies subject to the bio-safety standard as provided for by existing
laws: Provided, however, That the Department may approve the introduction of
foreign aquatic species for scientific/research purposes.

SECTION 11. Protection of Rare, Threatened and Endangered Species. — The

Department shall declare closed seasons and take conservation and
rehabilitation measures for rare, threatened and endangered species, as it may
determine, and shall ban the fishing and/or taking of rare, threatened and/or
endangered species, including their eggs/offspring as identified by existing laws
in concurrence with concerned government agencies.

SECTION 12. Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). — All government

agencies as well as private corporations, firms and entities who intend to
undertake activities or projects which will affect the quality of the environment
shall be required to prepare a detailed Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
prior to undertaking such development activity. The preparation of the EIS shall
form an integral part of the entire planning process pursuant to the provisions of
Presidential Decree No. 1586 as well as its implementing rules and regulations.

SECTION 13. Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC). — All Environmental

Impact Statements (EIS) shall be submitted to the Department of Environment
and Natural Resources (DENR) for review and evaluation. No person, natural or
juridical, shall undertake any development project without first securing an
Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) from the Secretary of the DENR.

SECTION 14. Monitoring, Control and Surveillance of Philippine Waters. — A

monitoring, control and surveillance system shall be established by the
Department in coordination with LGUs, FARMCs, the private sector and other
agencies concerned to ensure that the fisheries and aquatic resources in
Philippine waters are judiciously and wisely utilized and managed on a
sustainable basis and conserved for the benefit and enjoyment exclusively of
Filipino citizens.

SECTION 15. Auxiliary Invoices. — All fish and fishery products must have an
auxiliary invoice to be issued by the LGUs or their duly authorized representatives
prior to their transport from their point of origin to their point of destination in the
Philippines and/or export purposes upon payment of a fee to be determined by
the LGUs to defray administrative costs therefor.
 ARTICLE I

Municipal Fisheries

SECTION 16. Jurisdiction of Municipal/City Government. — The municipal/city

government shall have jurisdiction over municipal waters as defined in this Code.
The municipal/city government, in consultation with the FARMC shall be
responsible for the management, conservation, development, protection,
utilization, and disposition of all fish and fishery/aquatic resources within their
respective municipal waters.

The municipal/city government may, in consultation with the FARMC, enact

appropriate ordinances for this purpose and in accordance with the National
Fisheries Policy. The ordinances enacted by the municipality and component city
shall be reviewed pursuant to Republic Act No. 7160 by the sanggunian of the
province which has jurisdiction over the same.

The LGUs shall also enforce all fishery laws, rules and regulations as well as valid
fishery ordinances enacted by the municipal/city council.

The management of contiguous fishery resources such as bays which straddle

several municipalities, cities or provinces, shall be done in an integrated manner,
and shall not be based on political subdivisions of municipal waters in order to
facilitate their management as single resource systems. The LGUs which share
or border such resources may group themselves and coordinate with each other
to achieve the objectives of integrated fishery resource management. The
Integrated Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Councils (FARMCs)
established under Section 76 of this Code shall serve as the venues for close
collaboration among LGUs in the management of contiguous resources.

SECTION 17. Grant of Fishing Privileges in Municipal Waters. — The duly

registered fisherfolk organizations/cooperatives shall have preference in the grant
of fishery rights by the Municipal/City Council pursuant to Section 149 of the Local
Government Code: Provided, That in areas where there are special agencies or
offices vested with jurisdiction over municipal waters by virtue of special laws
creating these agencies such as, but not limited to, the Laguna Lake Development
Authority and the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development, said offices and
agencies shall continue to grant permits for proper management and
implementation of the aforementioned structures.

SECTION 18. Users of Municipal Waters. — All fishery related activities in

municipal waters, as defined in this Code, shall be utilized by municipal fisherfolk
and their cooperatives/organizations who are listed as such in the registry of
municipal fisherfolk.
The municipal or city government, however, may, through its local chief executive
and acting pursuant to an appropriate ordinance, authorize or permit small and
medium commercial fishing vessels to operate within the ten point one (10.1) to
fifteen (15) kilometer area from the shoreline in municipal waters as defined
herein, provided, that all the following are met:

a. no commercial fishing in municipal waters with depth less than seven

(7) fathoms as certified by the appropriate agency;

b. fishing activities utilizing methods and gears that are determined to be

consistent with national policies set by the Department;

c. prior consultation, through public hearing, with the M/CFARMC has

been conducted; and

d. the applicant vessel as well as the shipowner, employer, captain and

crew have been certified by the appropriate agency as not having violated this
Code, environmental laws and related laws.

In no case shall the authorization or permit mentioned above be granted for

fishing in bays as determined by the Department to be in an environmentally
critical condition and during closed season as provided for in Section 9 of this
Code.

SECTION 19. Registry of Municipal Fisherfolk. — The LGU shall maintain a

registry of municipal fisherfolk, who are fishing or may desire to fish in municipal
waters for the purpose of determining priorities among them, of limiting entry into
the municipal waters, and of monitoring fishing activities an/or other related
purposes: Provided, That the FARMC shall submit to the LGU the list of priorities
for its consideration.

Such list or registry shall be updated annually or as may be necessary, and shall
be posted in barangay halls or other strategic locations where it shall be open to
public inspection, for the purpose of validating the correctness and completeness
of the list. The LGU, in consultation with the FARMCs, shall formulate the
necessary mechanisms for inclusion or exclusion procedures that shall be most
beneficial to the resident municipal fisherfolk. The FARMCs may likewise
recommend such mechanisms.

The LGUs shall also maintain a registry of municipal fishing vessels by type of
gear and other boat particulars with the assistance of the FARMC.

SECTION 20. Fisherfolk Organizations and/or Cooperatives. — Fisherfolk

organizations/cooperatives whose members are listed in the registry of municipal
fisherfolk, may be granted use of demarcated fishery areas to engage in fish
capture, mariculture and/or fish farming: Provided, however, That an
organization/cooperative member whose household is already in possession of a
fishery right other than for fish capture cannot enjoy the fishing rights granted to
the organization or cooperative.

SECTION 21. Priority of Resident Municipal Fisherfolk. — Resident municipal

fisherfolk of the municipality concerned and their organizations/cooperatives shall
have priority to exploit municipal and demarcated fishery areas of the said
municipality.

SECTION 22. Demarcated Fishery Right. — The LGU concerned shall grant
demarcated fishery rights to fishery organizations/cooperatives for mariculture
operation in specific areas identified by the Department.

SECTION 23. Limited Entry Into Overfished Areas. — Whenever it is determined

by the LGUs and the Department that a municipal water is overfished based on
available data or information or in danger of being overfished, and that there is a
need to regenerate the fishery resources in that water, the LGU shall prohibit or
limit fishery activities in the said waters.

SECTION 24. Support to Municipal Fisherfolk. — The Department and the LGUs
shall provide support to municipal fisherfolk through appropriate technology and
research, credit, production and marketing assistance and other services such
as, but not limited to training for additional/supplementary livelihood.

SECTION 25. Rights and Privileges of Fishworkers. — The fishworkers shall be

entitled to the privileges accorded to other workers under the Labor Code, Social
Security System and other benefits under other laws or social legislation for
workers: Provided, That fishworkers on board any fishing vessels engaged in
fishing operations are hereby covered by the Philippine Labor Code, as amended.

ARTICLE II

Commercial Fisheries

SECTION 26. Commercial Fishing Vessel License and Other Licenses. — No

person shall operate a commercial fishing vessel, pearl fishing vessel or fishing
vessel for scientific, research or educational purposes, or engage in any fishery
activity, or seek employment as a fishworker or pearl diver without first securing
a license from the Department, the period of which shall be prescribed by the
Department: Provided, That no such license shall be required of a fishing vessel
engaged in scientific, research or educational purposes within Philippine waters
pursuant to an international agreement of which the Philippines is a signatory and
which agreement defines the status, privileges and obligations of said vessel and
its crew and the non-Filipino officials of the international agency under which said
vessel operates: Provided, further, That members of the crew of a fishing vessel
used for commercial fishing except the duly licensed and/or authorized patrons,
marine engineers, radio operators and cooks shall be considered as fisherfolk:
Provided, furthermore, That all skippers/master fishers shall be required to
undertake an orientation training on detection of fish caught by illegal means
before they can be issued their fishworker licenses: Provided, finally, That the
large commercial fishing vessels license herein authorized to be granted shall
allow the licensee to operate only in Philippine waters seven (7) or more fathoms
deep, the depth to be certified by the NAMRIA, and subject to the conditions that
may be stated therein and the rules and regulations that may be promulgated by
the Department.

SECTION 27. Persons Eligible for Commercial Fishing Vessel License. — No

commercial fishing vessel license shall be issued except to citizens of the
Philippines, partnerships or to associations, cooperatives or corporations duly
registered in the Philippines at least sixty percent (60%) of the capital stock of
which is owned by Filipino citizens. No person to whom a license has been issued
shall sell, transfer or assign, directly or indirectly, his stock or interest therein to
any person not qualified to hold a license. Any such transfer, sale or assignment
shall be null and void and shall not be registered in the books of the association,
cooperative or corporation.

For purposes of commercial fishing, fishing vessels owned by citizens of the

Philippines, partnerships, corporations, cooperatives or associations qualified
under this section shall secure Certificates of Philippine Registry and such other
documents as are necessary for fishing operations from the concerned agencies:
Provided, That the commercial fishing vessel license shall be valid for a period to
be determined by the Department.

SECTION 28. Commercial Fishing Vessel Registration. — The registration,

documentation, inspection and manning of the operation of all types of fishing
vessels plying Philippine waters shall be in accordance with laws, rules and
regulations.

SECTION 29. Registration and Licensing of Fishing Gears Used in Commercial

Fishing. — Before a commercial fishing vessel holding a commercial fishing
vessel license may begin fishing operations in Philippine waters, the fishing gear
it will utilize in fishing shall be registered and a license granted therefor. The
Department shall promulgate guidelines to implement this provision within sixty
(60) days from approval of this Code.

SECTION 30. Renewal of Commercial Boat License. — The commercial fishing

boat license shall be renewed every three (3) years.

The owner/operator of a fishing vessel has a period of sixty (60) days prior to the
expiration of the license within which to renew the same.
SECTION 31. Report of Transfer of Ownership. — The owner/operator of a
registered fishing vessel shall notify the Department in writing of the transfer of
the ownership of the vessel with a copy of such document within ten (10) days
after its transfer to another person.

SECTION 32. Fishing by Philippine Commercial Fishing Fleet in International

Waters. — Fishing vessels of Philippine registry may operate in international
waters or waters of other countries which allow such fishing operations: Provided,
That they comply with the safety, manning and other requirements of the
Philippine Coast Guard, Maritime Industry Authority and other agencies
concerned: Provided, however, That they secure an international fishing permit
and certificate of clearance from the Department: Provided, further, That the fish
caught by such vessels shall be considered as caught in Philippine waters and
therefore not subject to all import duties and taxes only when the same is landed
in duly designated fish landings and fish ports in the Philippines: Provided,
furthermore, That landing ports established by canneries, seafood processors
and all fish landing sites established prior to the effectivity of this Code shall be
considered authorized landing sites: Provided, finally, That fishworkers on board
Philippine registered fishing vessels conducting fishing activities beyond the
Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone are not considered as overseas Filipino
workers.

SECTION 33. Importation of Fishing Vessels or Construction of New Fishing

Boats. — Prior to the importation of fishing vessels and the construction of new
fishing vessels, the approval/clearance of the Department must first be obtained.

SECTION 34. Incentives for Municipal and Small-Scale Commercial Fisherfolk.

— Municipal and small-scale commercial fisherfolk shall be granted incentives
which shall include, but are not limited to, the following:

a. at least ten percent (10%) of the credit and the guarantee funds of
government financing institutions shall be made available for post-harvest and
marketing projects for the purpose of enhancing our fisherfolk competitiveness by
reducing post-harvest losses. Qualified projects shall include, but shall not be
limited to, ice plants, cold storage, canning, warehouse, transport and other
related infrastructure projects and facilities; and

b. the Department shall undertake the following programs:

1. a capability-building program for targeted parties shall be developed by

the Department to promote greater bankability and credit worthiness of municipal
and small-scale commercial fishers. Such program shall include organizing
activities, technology transfer, and skills training related to commercial fishing as
well as credit management. Groups and cooperatives organized under the
program shall have priority access over credit and guarantee funds established
under this Code; and
2. an information campaign shall be conducted to promote the capability
building and credit programs. The campaign shall ensure greater information
dissemination and accessibility to targeted fisherfolk.

SECTION 35. Incentives for Commercial Fishers to Fish Farther into the
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). — In order to encourage fishing vessel
operators to fish farther in the EEZ and beyond, new incentives for improvement
of fishing vessels and acquisition of fishing equipment shall be granted in addition
to incentives already available from the Board of Investments (BOI). Such
incentives shall be granted subject to exhaustive evaluation of resource and
exploitation conditions in the specified areas of fishing operations. The incentive
shall include, but not be limited to:

a. long term loans supported by guarantee facilities to finance the building

and acquisition and/or improvement of fishing vessels and equipment;

b. commercial fishing vessel operators of Philippine registry shall enjoy a

limited period of tax and duty exemptions on the importation of fishing vessels not
more than five (5) years old, equipment and paraphernalia, the period of
exemption and guidelines shall be fixed by the Department within ninety (90) days
from the effectivity of this Code;

c. commercial fishing operator of Philippine registry engaged in fisheries

in the high seas shall be entitled to duty and tax rebates on fuel consumption for
commercial fisheries operations. Guidelines shall be promulgated within ninety
(90) days from the effectivity of this Code by the Department; and

d. all applicable incentives available under the Omnibus Investment Code

of 1987: Provided, That the fishing operation project is qualified for registration
and is duly registered with the BOI.

SECTION 36. Complement of Fishing Vessels. — Every commercial fishing

vessel of Philippine registry when actually operated, shall be manned in
accordance with the requirements of the Philippine Merchant Marine rules and
regulations.

SECTION 37. Medical Supplies and Life-Saving Devices. — All fishing vessels
shall be provided with adequate medical supplies and life-saving devices to be
determined by the Occupational Safety and Health Center: Provided, That a
fishing vessel of twenty (20) GT or more shall have as a member of its crew a
person qualified as a first aider duly certified by the Philippine National Red Cross.

SECTION 38. Reportorial Requirements. — Each commercial fishing vessel shall

keep a daily record of fish catch and spoilage, landing points, and quantity and
value of fish caught, and off-loaded for transshipment, sale and/or other disposal.
Detailed information shall be duly certified by the vessel’s captain and transmitted
monthly to the officer or representative of the Department, at the nearest
designated landing point.

SECTION 39. Report of Meteorological and Other Data. — All vessels and crafts
passing navigational lanes or engaged in fisheries activity shall be required to
contribute to meteorological and other data, and shall assist the Department in
documentation or reporting of information vital to navigation and the fishing
industry.

SECTION 40. Color Code and Radio Frequency. — For administrative efficiency
and enforcement of regulations, registered fishing vessels shall bear a color code
as may be determined by the Department and may be assigned a radio frequency
specific and distinct to its area of operation.

SECTION 41. Passage. — Commercial and other passage not in the regular
conduct of fisheries activity shall be made at designated navigational lanes.

SECTION 42. Transshipment. — Foreign fishing vessels wishing to avail of land,

air and sea facilities available in the Philippines to transport fishery products which
are caught outside Philippine territorial waters to its final destination shall call only
at duly designated government-owned or -controlled regional fishport complexes
after securing clearance from the Department.

SECTION 43. Operation of Radio Communication Facilities on Board Fishing

Vessels. — The Department shall promulgate guidelines in the operation of radio
communication facilities on board fishing vessels and the assignment of radio
frequencies specific and distinct to area of operation in coordination with the
National Telecommunications Commission.

SECTION 44. Use of Superlight. — The number and wattage of superlights used
in commercial fishing vessels shall be regulated by the Department: Provided,
That the use of superlights is banned within municipal waters and bays.

ARTICLE III

Aquaculture

SECTION 45. Disposition of Public Lands for Fishery Purposes. — Public lands
such as tidal swamps, mangroves, marshes, foreshore lands and ponds suitable
for fishery operations shall not be disposed or alienated. Upon effectivity of this
Code, FLA may be issued for public lands that may be declared available for
fishpond development primarily to qualified fisherfolk cooperatives/associations:
Provided, however, That upon the expiration of existing FLAs the current lessees
shall be given priority and be entitled to an extension of twenty-five (25) years in
the utilization of their respective leased areas. Thereafter, such FLAs shall be
granted to any Filipino citizen with preference, primarily to qualified fisherfolk
cooperatives/associations as well as small and medium enterprises as defined
under Republic Act No. 8289: Provided, further, That the Department shall
declare as reservation, portions of available public lands certified as suitable for
fishpond purposes for fish sanctuary, conservation, and ecological purposes:
Provided, finally, That two (2) years after the approval of this Act, no fish pens or
fish cages or fish traps shall be allowed in lakes.

SECTION 46. Lease of Fishponds. — Fishpond leased to qualified persons and

fisherfolk organizations/cooperatives shall be subject to the following conditions:

a. Areas leased for fishpond purposes shall be no more than 50 hectares

for individuals and 250 hectares for corporations or fisherfolk organizations;

b. The lease shall be for a period of twenty-five (25) years and renewable
for another twenty-five (25) years: Provided, That in case of the death of the
lessee, his spouse and/or children, as his heirs, shall have preemptive rights to
the unexpired term of his Fishpond Lease Agreement subject to the same terms
and conditions provided herein provided that the said heirs are qualified;

c. Lease rates for fishpond areas shall be determined by the Department:

Provided, That all fees collected shall be remitted to the National Fisheries
Research and Development Institute and other qualified research institutions to
be used for aquaculture research development;

d. The area leased shall be developed and producing on a commercial

scale within three (3) years from the approval of the lease contract: Provided,
however, That all areas not fully producing within five (5) years from the date of
approval of the lease contract shall automatically revert to the public domain for
reforestation;

e. The fishpond shall not be subleased, in whole or in part, and failure to

comply with this provision shall mean cancellation of FLA;

f. The transfer or assignment of rights to FLA shall be allowed only upon

prior written approval of the Department;

g. The lessee shall undertake reforestation for river banks, bays, streams,
and seashore fronting the dike of his fishpond subject to the rules and regulations
to be promulgated thereon; and

h. The lessee shall provide facilities that will minimize environmental

pollution, i.e., settling ponds, reservoirs, etc: Provided, That failure to comply with
this provision shall mean cancellation of FLA.

SECTION 47. Code of Practice for Aquaculture. — The Department shall

establish a code of practice for aquaculture that will outline general principles and
guidelines for environmentally-sound design and operation to promote the
sustainable development of the industry. Such Code shall be developed through
a consultative process with the DENR, the fishworkers, FLA holders, fishpond
owners, fisherfolk cooperatives, small-scale operators, research institutions and
the academe, and other potential stakeholders. The Department may consult with
specialized international organizations in the formulation of the code of practice.

SECTION 48. Incentives and Disincentives for Sustainable Aquaculture

Practices. — The Department shall formulate incentives and disincentives, such
as, but not limited to, effluent charges, user fees and negotiable permits, to
encourage compliance with the environmental standards and to promote
sustainable management practices.

SECTION 49. Reversion of All Abandoned, Undeveloped or Underutilized

Fishponds. — The DENR, in coordination with the Department, LGUs, other
concerned agencies and FARMCs shall determine which abandoned,
underdeveloped or underutilized fishponds covered by FLAs can be reverted to
their original mangrove state and after having made such determination shall take
all steps necessary to restore such areas in their original mangrove state.

SECTION 50. Absentee Fishpond Lease Agreement Holders. — Holders of

fishpond lease agreements who have acquired citizenship in another country
during the existence of the FLA shall have their lease automatically cancelled and
the improvements thereon to be forfeited in favor of the government and disposed
of in accordance with rules and regulations promulgated thereon.

SECTION 51. License to Operate Fish Pens, Fish Cages, Fish Traps and Other
Structures for the Culture of Fish and Other Fishery Products. — Fish pens, fish
cages, fish traps and other structures for the culture of fish and other fishery
products shall be constructed and shall operate only within established zones
duly designated by LGUs in consultation with the FARMCs concerned consistent
with national fisheries policies after the corresponding licenses thereof have been
secured. The area to be utilized for this purpose for individual person shall be
determined by the LGUs in consultation with the concerned FARMC: Provided,
however, That not over ten percent (10%) of the suitable water surface area of all
lakes and rivers shall be allotted for aquaculture purposes like fish pens, fish
cages and fish traps; and the stocking density and feeding requirement which
shall be controlled and determined by its carrying capacity: Provided, further, That
fish pens and fish cages located outside municipal waters shall be constructed
and operated only within fish pen and fish cage belts designated by the
Department and after corresponding licenses therefor have been secured and the
fees thereof paid.

SECTION 52. Pearl Farm Leases. — The foregoing provisions notwithstanding,

existing pearl farm leases shall be respected and allowed to operate under the
terms thereof. New leases may be granted to qualified persons who possess the
necessary capital and technology, by the LGUs having jurisdiction over the area.

SECTION 53. Grant of Privileges for Operations of Fish Pens, Cages,

Corrals/Traps and Similar Structures. — No new concessions, licenses, permits,
leases and similar privileges for the establishment or operation of fish pens, fish
cages, fish corrals/traps and other similar structures in municipal areas shall be
granted except to municipal fisherfolk and their organizations.

SECTION 54. Insurance for Fishponds, Fish Cages and Fish Pens. — Inland
fishponds, fish cages and fish pens shall be covered under the insurance program
of the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation for losses caused by force majeure
and fortuitous events.

SECTION 55. Non-Obstruction to Navigation. — Nothing in the foregoing

sections shall be construed as permitting the lessee, licensee, or permittee to
undertake any construction which will obstruct the free navigation in any stream,
river, lakes, or bays flowing through or adjoining the fish pens, fish cages, fish
traps and fishponds, or impede the flow of the tide to and from the area. Any
construction made in violation hereof shall be removed upon the order of the
Department in coordination with the other government agencies concerned at the
expense of the lessee, licensee, or occupants thereof, whenever applicable. The
Department shall within thirty (30) days after the effectivity of this Code formulate
and implement rules and regulations for the immediate dismantling of existing
obstruction to navigation.

SECTION 56. Non-Obstruction to Defined Migration Paths. — Nothing in the

foregoing sections shall be construed as permitting the lessee, permittee, or
licensee to undertake any construction which will obstruct any defined migration
path of migratory fish species such as river mouths and estuaries within a
distance determined by the concerned LGUs in consultation with and upon the
recommendation of the FARMCs.

SECTION 57. Registration of Fish Hatcheries and Private Fishponds, etc. — All
fish hatcheries, fish breeding facilities and private fishponds must be registered
with the LGUs which shall prescribe minimum standards for such facilities in
consultation with the Department: Provided, That the Department shall conduct a
yearly inventory of all fishponds, fish pens and fish cages whether in public or
private lands: Provided, further, That all fishpond, fish pens and fish cage
operators shall annually report to the Department the type of species and volume
of production in areas devoted to aquaculture.

ARTICLE IV

Post-Harvest Facilities, Activities and Trades

SECTION 58. Comprehensive Post-harvest and Ancillary Industries Plan. — The
Department shall conduct a regular study of fisheries post-harvest operations and
ancillary industries, in the formulation of a comprehensive plan for post-harvest
and ancillary industries. It shall take into account among others, the following:

a. detailed and clear guidelines on the distribution, construction,

maintenance and use of post-harvest infrastructure facilities;

b. extension of credit and incentives for post-harvest operations;

c. promotion and strengthening of semi-processing, processing and

handling;

d. development of domestic fishmeal industry;

e. development of fisheries ship-building and repair as a viable industry;

f. development and strengthening of marketing facilities and activities,

including the pricing system, with emphasis on collective marketing and the
elimination of middlemen;

g. increased participation of cooperatives and non-governmental

organizations in post-harvest operations and ancillary industries; and

h. integration of fisheries post-harvest operations into the national fisheries

plan.

SECTION 59. Establishment of Post-Harvest Facilities for Fishing Communities.

— The LGUs shall coordinate with the private sector and other concerned
agencies and FARMCs in the establishment of post-harvest facilities for fishing
communities such as, but not limited to, municipal fish landing sites, fish ports,
ice plants and cold storage and other fish processing establishments to serve
primarily the needs of municipal fisherfolk: Provided, That such post-harvest
facilities shall be consistent with the Comprehensive Post-harvest and Ancillary
Industries Plan.

SECTION 60. Registration and Licensing of all Post-Harvest Facilities. — All post-
harvest facilities such as fish processing plants, ice plants, and cold storages, fish
ports/landings and other fishery business establishments must register with and
be licensed by the LGUs which shall prescribe minimum standards for such
facilities in consultation with the Department.

SECTION 61. Importation and Exportation of Fishery Products. —

a. Export of fishery products shall be regulated whenever such exportation

affects domestic food security and production: Provided, That exportation of live
fish shall be prohibited except those which are hatched or propagated in
accredited hatcheries and ponds;

b. To protect and maintain the local biodiversity or ensure the sufficiency

of domestic supply, spawners, breeders, eggs and fry of bangus, prawn and other
endemic species, as may be determined by the Department, shall not be exported
or caused to be exported by any person;

c. Fishery products may be imported only when the importation has been
certified as necessary by the Department in consultation with the FARMC, and all
the requirements of this Code, as well as all existing rules and regulations have
been complied with: Provided, That fish imports for canning/processing purposes
only may be allowed without the necessary certification, but within the provisions
of Section 61(d) of this Code; and

d. No person, shall import and/or export fishery products of whatever size,

stage or form for any purpose without securing a permit from the Department.

The Department in consultation with the FARMC shall promulgate rules and
regulations on importation and exportation of fish and fishery/aquatic resources
with the Government’s export/import simplification procedures.

SECTION 62. Instruments of Weights and Measures, and Quality

Grades/Standards. — Standards for weights, volume and other measurements
for all fishery transactions shall be set by the Department.

All fish and fishery products for export, import and domestic consumption shall
meet the quality grades/standards as determined by the Department.

The LGU concerned shall, by appropriate ordinance, penalize fraudulent

practices and unlawful possession or use of instruments of weights and
measures.

CHAPTER III

Reconstitution of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and Creation

of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Councils

ARTICLE I

Reconstitution of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources

SECTION 63. Creation of the Position of Undersecretary for Fisheries and

Aquatic Resources. — There is hereby created in the Department of Agriculture
the position of Undersecretary for Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, solely for the
purpose of attending to the needs of the fishing industry, to be appointed by the
President. Such Undersecretary shall have the following functions:

a. set policies and formulate standards for the effective, efficient and
economical operations of the fishing industry in accordance with the programs of
the government;

b. exercise overall supervision over all functions and activities of all offices
and instrumentalities and other offices related to fisheries including its officers;

c. establish, with the assistance of the director, such regional, provincial

and other fishery officers as may be necessary and appropriate and organize the
internal structure of BFAR in such manner as is necessary for the efficient and
effective attainment of its objectives and purposes; and

d. perform such other functions as may be necessary or proper to attain

the objectives of this Code.

SECTION 64. Reconstitution of the BFAR. — The Bureau of Fisheries and

Aquatic Resources (BFAR) is hereby reconstituted as a line bureau under the
Department of Agriculture.

SECTION 65. Functions of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. —

As a line bureau, the BFAR shall have the following functions:

a. prepare and implement a Comprehensive National Fisheries Industry

Development Plan;

b. issue licenses for the operation of commercial fishing vessels;

c. issue identification cards free of charge to fishworkers engaged in

commercial fishing;

d. monitor and review joint fishing agreements between Filipino citizens

and foreigners who conduct fishing activities in international waters, and ensure
that such agreements are not contrary to Philippine commitment under
international treaties and convention on fishing in the high seas;

e. formulate and implement a Comprehensive Fishery Research and

Development Program, such as, but not limited to, sea farming, sea ranching,
tropical/ornamental fish and seaweed culture, aimed at increasing resource
productivity, improving resource use efficiency, and ensuring the long-term
sustainability of the country’s fishery and aquatic resources;

f. establish and maintain a Comprehensive Fishery Information System;

g. provide extensive development support services in all aspects of
fisheries production, processing and marketing;

h. provide advisory services and technical assistance on the improvement

of quality of fish from the time it is caught (i.e. on board fishing vessel, at landing
areas, fish markets, to the processing plants and to the distribution and marketing
chain);

i. coordinate efforts relating to fishery production undertaken by the

primary fishery producers, LGUs, FARMCs, fishery and
organizations/cooperatives;

j. advise and coordinate with LGUs on the maintenance of proper

sanitation and hygienic practices in fish markets and fish landing areas;

k. establish a corps of specialists in collaboration with the Department of

National Defense, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department
of Foreign Affairs for the efficient monitoring, control and surveillance of fishing
activities within Philippine territorial waters and provide the necessary facilities,
equipment and training therefor;

l. implement an inspection system for import and export of fishery/aquatic

products and fish processing establishments, consistent with international
standards to ensure product quality and safety;

m. coordinate with LGUs and other concerned agencies for the

establishment of productivity enhancing and market development programs in
fishing communities to enable women to engage in other fisheries/economic
activities and contribute significantly to development efforts;

n. enforce all laws, formulate and enforce all rules and regulations
governing the conservation and management of fishery resources, except in
municipal waters, and to settle conflicts of resource use and allocation in
consultation with the NFARMC, LGUs and local FARMCs;

o. develop value-added fishery-products for domestic consumption and

export;

p. recommend measures for the protection/enhancement of the fishery

industries;

q. assist the LGUs in developing their technical capability in the

development, management, regulation, conservation, and protection of the
fishery resources;
r. formulate rules and regulations for the conservation and management
of straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks; and

s. perform such other related functions which shall promote the

development, conservation, management, protection and utilization of fisheries
and aquatic resources.

SECTION 66. Composition of BFAR. — As a line bureau, the BFAR shall be

headed by a Director and assisted by two (2) Assistant Directors who shall
supervise the administrative and technical services of the bureau respectively. It
shall establish regional, provincial and municipal offices as may be appropriate
and necessary to carry out effectively and efficiently the provisions of this Code.

SECTION 67. Fisheries Inspection and Quarantine Service. — For purposes of

monitoring and regulating the importation and exportation of fish and
fishery/aquatic resources, the Fisheries Inspection and Quarantine Service in the
BFAR is hereby strengthened and shall have the following functions:

a. conduct fisheries quarantine and quality inspection of all fish and

fishery/aquatic products coming into and going out of the country by air or water
transport, to detect the presence of fish pest and diseases and if found to harbor
fish pests or diseases shall be confiscated and disposed of in accordance with
environmental standards and practices;

b. implement international agreements/commitments on bio-safety and

bio-diversity as well as prevent the movement or trade of endemic fishery and
aquatic resources to ensure that the same are not taken out of the country;

c. quarantine such aquatic animals and other fishery products determined

or suspected to be with fishery pests and diseases and prevent the movement or
trade from and/or into the country of these products so prohibited or regulated
under existing laws, rules and regulations as well as international agreements of
which the Philippines is a State Party;

d. examine all fish and fishery products coming into or going out of the
country which may be a source or medium of fish pests or diseases and/or
regulated by existing fishery regulations and ensure that the quality of fish import
and export meet international standards; and

e. document and authorize the movement or trade of fish and fishery

products when found free of fish pests or diseases and collect necessary fees
prescribed by law and regulations.

ARTICLE II

The Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Councils (FARMCs)

SECTION 68. Development of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Municipal
Waters and Bays. — Fisherfolk and their organizations residing within the
geographical jurisdiction of the barangays, municipalities or cities with the
concerned LGUs shall develop the fishery/aquatic resources in municipal waters
and bays.

SECTION 69. Creation of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management

Councils (FARMCs). — FARMCs shall be established in the national level and in
all municipalities/cities abutting municipal waters as defined by this Code. The
FARMCs shall be formed by fisherfolk organizations/cooperatives and NGOs in
the locality and be assisted by the LGUs and other government entities. Before
organizing FARMCs, the LGUs, NGOs, fisherfolk, and other concerned POs shall
undergo consultation and orientation on the formation of FARMCs.

SECTION 70. Creation and Composition of the National Fisheries and Aquatic
Resources Management Council (NFARMC). — There is hereby created a
National Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council hereinafter
referred to as NFARMC as an advisory/recommendatory body to the Department.
The NFARMC shall be composed of fifteen (15) members consisting of:

a. the Undersecretary of Agriculture, as Chairman;

b. the Undersecretary of the Interior and Local Government;

c. five (5) members representing the fisherfolk and fishworkers;

d. five (5) members representing commercial fishing and aquaculture

operators and the processing sectors;

e. two (2) members from the academe; and

f. one (1) representative of NGOs involved in fisheries.

The members of the NFARMC, except for the Undersecretary of Agriculture and
the Undersecretary of the Interior and Local Government, shall be appointed by
the President upon the nomination of their respective organizations.

SECTION 71. Terms of Office. — The members of NFARMC, except the

Undersecretary of Agriculture and the Undersecretary of the Interior and Local
Government, shall serve for a term of three (3) years without reappointment.

SECTION 72. Functions of the NFARMC. — The NFARMC shall have the
following functions:
a. assist in the formulation of national policies for the protection,
sustainable development and management of fishery and aquatic resources for
the approval of the Secretary;

b. assist the Department in the preparation of the National Fisheries and

Industry Development Plan; and

c. perform such other functions as may be provided by law.

SECTION 73. The Municipal/City Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management

Councils (M/CFARMCs). — The M/CFARMCs shall be created in each of the
municipalities and cities abutting municipal waters. However, the LGU may create
the Barangay Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Councils
(BFARMCs) and the Lakewide Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management
Councils (LFARMCs) whenever necessary. Such BFARMCs and LFARMCs shall
serve in an advisory capacity to the LGUs.

SECTION 74. Functions of the M/CFARMCs. — The M/CFARMCs shall exercise

the following functions:

a. assist in the preparation of the Municipal Fishery Development Plan and

submit such plan to the Municipal Development Council;

b. recommend the enactment of municipal fishery ordinances to the

sangguniang bayan/sangguniang panlungsod through its Committee on
Fisheries;

c. assist in the enforcement of fishery laws, rules and regulations in

municipal waters;

d. advise the sangguniang bayan/panlungsod on fishery matters through

its Committee on Fisheries, if such has been organized; and

e. perform such other functions which may be assigned by the

sangguniang bayan/panlungsod.

SECTION 75. Composition of the M/CFARMC. — The regular member of the

M/CFARMCs shall be composed of:

a. Municipal/City Planning Development Officer;

b. Chairperson, Agriculture/Fishery Committee of the Sangguniang

Bayan/Panlungsod;

c. representative of the Municipal/City Development Council;

d. representative from the accredited non-government organization;

e. representative from the private sector;

f. representative from the Department of Agriculture; and

g. at least eleven (11) fisherfolk representatives (seven (7) municipal

fisherfolk, one (1) fishworker and three (3) commercial fishers) in each
municipality/city which include representative from youth and women sector.

The Council shall adopt rules and regulations necessary to govern its proceedings
and election.

SECTION 76. The Integrated Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management

Councils (IFARMCs). — The IFARMCs shall be created in bays, gulfs, lakes and
rivers and dams bounded by two (2) or more municipalities/cities.

SECTION 77. Functions of the IFARMCs. — The IFARMC shall have the
following functions:

a. assist in the preparation of the Integrated Fishery Development Plan

and submit such plan to the concerned Municipal Development Councils;

b. recommend the enactment of integrated fishery ordinances to the

concerned sangguniang bayan/panlungsod through its Committee on Fisheries,
if such has been organized;

c. assist in the enforcement of fishery laws, rules and regulations in

concerned municipal waters;

d. advice the concerned sangguniang bayan/panlungsod on fishery

matters through its Committee on Fisheries, if such has been organized; and

e. perform such other functions which may be assigned by the concerned

sangguniang bayan/panlungsod.

SECTION 78. Composition of the IFARMCs. — The regular members of the

IFARMCs shall be composed of the following:

a. the chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture/Fisheries of the

concerned sangguniang bayan/panlungsod;

b. the Municipal/City Fisheries Officers of the concerned

municipalities/cities;
c. the Municipal/City Development Officers of the concerned
municipalities/cities;

d. one (1) representative from NGO;

e. one (1) representative from private sector; and

f. at least nine (9) representatives from the fisherfolk sector which include
representatives from the youth and women sector.

The Council shall adopt rules and regulations necessary to govern its proceedings
and election.

SECTION 79. Source of Funds of the FARMCs. — A separate fund for the
NFARMC, IFARMCs and M/CFARMCs shall be established and administered by
the Department from the regular annual budgetary appropriations.

CHAPTER IV

Fishery Reserves, Refuge and Sanctuaries

SECTION 80. Fishing Areas Reserves for Exclusive Use of Government. — The
Department may designate area or areas in Philippine waters beyond fifteen (15)
kilometers from shoreline as fishery reservation for the exclusive use of the
government or any of its political subdivisions, agencies or instrumentalities, for
propagation, educational, research and scientific purposes: Provided, That in
municipalities or cities, the concerned LGUs in consultation with the FARMCs
may recommend to the Department that portion of the municipal waters be
declared as fishery reserves for special or limited use, for educational, research,
and/or special management purposes. The FARMCs may recommend to the
Department portions of the municipal waters which can be declared as fisheries
reserves for special or limited use for educational, research and special
management purposes.

SECTION 81. Fish Refuge and Sanctuaries. — The Department may establish
fish refuge and sanctuaries to be administered in the manner to be prescribed by
the BFAR at least twenty-five percent (25%) but not more than forty percent (40%)
of bays, foreshore lands, continental shelf or any fishing ground shall be set aside
for the cultivation of mangroves to strengthen the habitat and the spawning
grounds of fish. Within these areas no commercial fishing shall be allowed. All
marine fishery reserves, fish sanctuaries and mangrove swamp reservations
already declared or proclaimed by the President or legislated by the Congress of
the Philippines shall be continuously administered and supervised by the
concerned agency: Provided, however, That in municipal waters, the concerned
LGU in consultation with the FARMCs may establish fishery refuge and
sanctuaries. The FARMCs may also recommend fishery refuge and sanctuaries:
Provided, further, That at least fifteen percent (15%) where applicable of the total
coastal areas in each municipality shall be identified, based on the best available
scientific data and in consultation with the Department, and automatically
designated as fish sanctuaries by the LGUs in consultation with the concerned
FARMCs.

CHAPTER V

Fisheries Research and Development

SECTION 82. Creation of a National Fisheries Research and Development

Institute (NFRDI). — In recognition of the important role of fisheries research in
the development, management, conservation and protection of the country’s
fisheries and aquatic resources, there is hereby created a National Fisheries
Research and Development Institute (NFRDI).

The Institute shall form part of the National Research and Development Network
of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

The Institute, which shall be attached to the Department shall serve as the primary
research arm of the BFAR. The overall governance of the Institute shall be vested
in the Governing Board which shall formulate policy guidelines for its operation.
The plans, programs and operational budget shall be passed by the Board. The
Board may create such committees as it may deem necessary for the proper and
effective performance of its functions. The composition of the Governing Board
shall be as follows:

a. Undersecretary for Fisheries — Chairman

b. BFAR Director — Vice Chairman

c. NFRDI Executive Director — Member

d. PCAMRD Executive Director — Member

e. Representative from the academe — Member

f. four (4) representatives from the private sector who shall come from the
following subsectors: — Members

* Municipal Fisherfolk

* Commercial Fishing Operator

* Aquaculture Operator
* Post-Harvest/Processor

The NFRDI shall have a separate budget specific to its manpower requirements
and operations to ensure the independent and objective implementation of its
research activities.

SECTION 83. Qualification Standard. — The Institute shall be headed by an

Executive Director to be appointed by the President of the Philippines upon the
recommendation of the governing board. The Executive Director shall hold a
Doctorate degree in fisheries and/or other related disciplines. The organizational
structure and staffing pattern shall be approved by the Department: Provided,
however, That the staffing pattern and remunerations for scientific and technical
staff shall be based on the qualification standards for science and technology
personnel.

SECTION 84. Research and Development Objectives. — Researches to be done

by the NFRDI are expected to result in the following:

a. To raise the income of the fisherfolk and to elevate the Philippines

among the top five (5) in the world ranking in the fish productions;

b. to make the country’s fishing industry in the high seas competitive;

c. to conduct social research on fisherfolk families for a better

understanding of their conditions and needs; and

d. to coordinate with the fisheries schools, LGUs and private sectors

regarding the maximum utilization of available technology, including the transfer
of such technology to the industry particularly the fisherfolk.

SECTION 85. Functions of the NFRDI. — As a national institute, the NFRDI

shall have the following functions:

a. establish a national infrastructure unit complete with technologically-

advanced features and modern scientific equipment, which shall facilitate,
monitor, and implement various research needs and activities of the fisheries
sector;

b. provide a venue for intensive training and development of human

resources in the field of fisheries, a repository of all fisheries researches and
scientific information;

c. provide intensive training and development of human resources in the

field of fisheries for the maximum utilization of available technology;
d. hasten the realization of the economic potential of the fisheries sector
by maximizing developmental research efforts in accordance with the
requirements of the national fisheries conservations and development programs,
also possibly through collaborative effort with international institutions; and

e. formally establish, strengthen and expand the network of fisheries-

researching communities through effective communication linkages nationwide.

CHAPTER VI

Prohibitions and Penalties

SECTION 86. Unauthorized Fishing or Engaging in Other Unauthorized Fisheries

Activities. — No person shall exploit, occupy, produce, breed, culture, capture or
gather fish, fry or fingerlings of any fishery species or fishery products, or engage
in any fishery activity in Philippine waters without a license, lease or permit.

Discovery of any person in an area where he has no permit or registration papers

for a fishing vessel shall constitute a prima facie presumption that the person
and/or vessel is engaged in unauthorized fishing: Provided, That fishing for daily
food sustenance or for leisure which is not for commercial, occupation or
livelihood purposes may be allowed.

It shall be unlawful for any commercial fishing vessel to fish in bays and in such
other fishery management areas which may hereinafter be declared as over-
exploited.

Any commercial fishing boat captain or the three (3) highest officers of the boat
who commit any of the above prohibited acts upon conviction shall be punished
by a fine equivalent to the value of catch or Ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00)
whichever is higher, and imprisonment of six (6) months, confiscation of catch
and fishing gears, and automatic revocation of license.

It shall be unlawful for any person not listed in the registry of municipal fisherfolk
to engage in any commercial fishing activity in municipal waters. Any municipal
fisherfolk who commits such violation shall be punished by confiscation of catch
and a fine of Five hundred pesos (500.00).

SECTION 87. Poaching in Philippine Waters. — It shall be unlawful for any

foreign person, corporation or entity to fish or operate any fishing vessel in
Philippine waters.

The entry of any foreign fishing vessel in Philippine waters shall constitute a prima
facie evidence that the vessel is engaged in fishing in Philippine waters.
Violation of the above shall be punished by a fine of One hundred thousand U.S.
Dollars (US$100,000.00), in addition to the confiscation of its catch, fishing
equipment and fishing vessel: Provided, That the Department is empowered to
impose an administrative fine of not less than Fifty thousand U.S. Dollars
(US$50,000.00) but not more than Two hundred thousand U.S. Dollars
(US$200,000.00) or its equivalent in the Philippine Currency.

SECTION 88. Fishing Through Explosives, Noxious or Poisonous Substance,

and/or Electricity. —

(1) It shall be unlawful for any person to catch, take or gather or cause to be
caught, taken or gathered, fish or any fishery species in Philippine waters with the
use of electricity, explosives, noxious or poisonous substance such as sodium
cyanide in the Philippine fishery areas, which will kill, stupefy, disable or render
unconscious fish or fishery species: Provided, That the Department, subject to
such safeguards and conditions deemed necessary and endorsement from the
concerned LGUs, may allow, for research, educational or scientific purposes only,
the use of electricity, poisonous or noxious substances to catch, take or gather
fish or fishery species: Provided, further, That the use of poisonous or noxious
substances to eradicate predators in fishponds in accordance with accepted
scientific practices and without causing adverse environmental impact in
neighboring waters and grounds shall not be construed as illegal fishing.

It will likewise be unlawful for any person, corporation or entity to possess, deal
in, sell or in any manner dispose of, any fish or fishery species which have been
illegally caught, taken or gathered.

The discovery of dynamite, other explosives and chemical compounds which

contain combustible elements, or noxious or poisonous substances, or equipment
or device for electro-fishing in any fishing vessel or in the possession of any
fisherfolk, operator, fishing boat official or fishworker shall constitute prima facie
evidence, that the same was used for fishing in violation of this Code. The
discovery in any fishing vessel of fish caught or killed with the use of explosive,
noxious or poisonous substances or by electricity shall constitute prima facie
evidence that the fisherfolk, operator, boat official or fishworker is fishing with the
use thereof.

(2) Mere possession of explosive, noxious or poisonous substances or

electrofishing devices for illegal fishing shall be punishable by imprisonment
ranging from six (6) months to two (2) years.

(3) Actual use of explosives, noxious or poisonous substances or

electrofishing devices for illegal fishing shall be punishable by imprisonment
ranging from five (5) years to ten (10) years without prejudice to the filing of
separate criminal cases when the use of the same result to physical injury or loss
of human life.
(4) Dealing in, selling, or in any manner disposing of, for profit, illegally
caught/gathered fisheries species shall be punished by imprisonment ranging
from six (6) months to two (2) years.

(5) In all cases enumerated above, the explosives, noxious or poisonous

substances and/or electrical devices, as well as the fishing vessels, fishing
equipment and catch shall be forfeited.

SECTION 89. Use of Fine Mesh Net. — It shall be unlawful to engage in fishing
using nets with mesh smaller than that which may be fixed by the Department:
Provided, That the prohibition on the use of fine mesh net shall not apply to the
gathering of fry, glass eels, elvers, tabios, and alamang and such species which
by their nature are small but already mature to be identified in the implementing
rules and regulations by the Department.

Violation of the above shall subject the offender to a fine from Two thousand
pesos (P2,000.00) to Twenty thousand pesos (P20,000.00) or imprisonment from
six (6) months to two (2) years or both such fine and imprisonment at the
discretion of the court: Provided, That if the offense is committed by a commercial
fishing vessel, the boat captain and the master fisherman shall also be subject to
the penalties provided herein: Provided, further, That the owner/operator of the
commercial fishing vessel who violates this provision shall be subjected to the
same penalties provided herein: Provided, finally, That the Department is hereby
empowered to impose upon the offender an administrative fine and/or cancel his
permit or license or both.

SECTION 90. Use of Active Gear in the Municipal Waters and Bays and Other
Fishery Management Areas. — It shall be unlawful to engage in fishing in
municipal waters and in all bays as well as other fishery management areas using
active fishing gears as defined in this Code.

Violators of the above prohibitions shall suffer the following penalties:

(1) The boat captain and master fisherman of the vessels who participated
in the violation shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment from two (2) years to six
(6) years;

(2) The owner/operator of the vessel shall be fined from Two thousand
pesos (P2,000.00) to Twenty thousand pesos (20,000.00) upon the discretion of
the court.

If the owner/operator is a corporation, the penalty shall be imposed on the chief

executive officer of the Corporation.

If the owner/operator is a partnership the penalty shall be imposed on the

managing partner.
(3) The catch shall be confiscated and forfeited.

SECTION 91. Ban on Coral Exploitation and Exportation. — It shall be unlawful

for any person or corporation to gather, possess, sell or export ordinary precious
and semi-precious corals, whether raw or in processed form, except for scientific
or research purposes.

Violations of this provision shall be punished by imprisonment from six (6) months
to two (2) years and a fine from Two thousand pesos (P2,000.00) to Twenty
thousand pesos (20,000.00), or both such fine and imprisonment, at the discretion
of the court, and forfeiture of the subject corals, including the vessel and its proper
disposition.

The confiscated corals shall either be returned to the sea or donated to schools
and museums for educational or scientific purposes or disposed through other
means.

SECTION 92. Ban on Muro-Ami Other Methods and Gear Destructive to Coral
Reefs and Other Marine Habitat. — It shall be unlawful for any person, natural or
juridical, to fish with gear method that destroys coral reefs, seagrass beds, and
other fishery marine life habitat as may be determined by the Department. “Muro-
Ami” and any of its variation, and such similar gear and methods that require
diving, other physical or mechanical acts to pound the coral reefs and other
habitat to entrap, gather or catch fish and other fishery species are also
prohibited.

The operator, boat captain, master fisherman, and recruiter or organizer of

fishworkers who violate this provision shall suffer a penalty of two (2) years to ten
(10) years imprisonment and a fine of not less than One hundred thousand pesos
(P100,000.00) to Five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00) or both such fine
and imprisonment, at the discretion of the court. The catch and gear used shall
be confiscated.

It shall likewise be unlawful for any person or corporation to gather, sell or export
white sand, silica, pebbles and any other substances which make up any marine
habitat.

The person or corporation who violates this provision shall suffer a penalty of two
(2) years to ten (10) years imprisonment and a fine of not less than One hundred
thousand pesos (P100,000.00) to Five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00)
or both such fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of the court. The substance
taken from its marine habitat shall be confiscated.

SECTION 93. Illegal Use of Superlights. — It shall be unlawful to engage in

fishing with the use of superlights in municipal waters or in violation of the rules
and regulations which may be promulgated by the Department on the use of
superlights outside municipal waters.

Violations of this provision shall be punished by imprisonment from six (6) months
to two (2) years or a fine of Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) per superlight, or
both such fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the courts. The superlight,
fishing gears and vessel shall be confiscated.

SECTION 94. Conversion of Mangroves. — It shall be unlawful for any person to

convert mangroves into fishponds or for any other purposes.

Violation of the provision of this section shall be punished by imprisonment of six

(6) years and one (1) day to twelve (12) years and/or a fine of Eighty thousand
pesos (P80,000.00): Provided, That if the area requires rehabilitation or
restoration as determined by the court, the offender should also be required to
restore or compensate for the restoration of the damage.

SECTION 95. Fishing in Overfished Area and During Closed Season. — It shall
be unlawful to fish in overfished area and during closed season.

Violation of the provision of this section shall be punished by imprisonment of six

(6) months and one (1) day to six (6) years and/or fine of Six thousand pesos
(P6,000.00) and by forfeiture of the catch and cancellation of fishing permit or
license.

SECTION 96. Fishing in Fishery Reserves, Refuge and Sanctuaries. — It shall

be unlawful to fish in fishery areas declared by the Department as fishery
reserves, refuge and sanctuaries.

Violation of the provision of this section shall be punished by imprisonment of two

(2) years to six (6) years and/or fine of Two thousand pesos (P2,000.00) to Twenty
thousand pesos (P20,000.00) and by forfeiture of the catch and the cancellation
of fishing permit or license.

SECTION 97. Fishing or Taking of Rare, Threatened or Endangered Species. —

It shall be unlawful to fish or take rare, threatened or endangered species as listed
in the CITES and as determined by the Department.

Violation of the provision of this section shall be punished by imprisonment of

twelve (12) years to twenty (20) years and/or a fine of One hundred and twenty
thousand pesos (P120,000.00) and forfeiture of the catch, and the cancellation of
fishing permit.

SECTION 98. Capture of Sabalo and Other Breeders/Spawners. — It shall be

unlawful for any person to catch, gather, capture or possess mature milkfish or
“sabalo” and such other breeders or spawners of other fishery species as may be
determined by the Department: Provided, That catching of “sabalo” and other
breeders/spawners for local breeding purposes or scientific or research purposes
may be allowed subject to guidelines to be promulgated by the Department.

Violation of the provision of this section shall be punished by imprisonment of six

(6) months and one (1) day to eight (8) years and/or a fine of Eighty thousand
pesos (P80,000.00) and forfeiture of the catch, and fishing equipment used and
revocation of license.

SECTION 99. Exportation of Breeders, Spawners, Eggs or Fry. — Exportation of

breeders, spawners, eggs or fry as prohibited in this Code shall be punished by
imprisonment of eight (8) years, confiscation of the same or a fine equivalent to
double the value of the same, and revocation of the fishing and/or export
license/permit.

SECTION 100. Importation or Exportation of Fish or Fishery Species. — Any

importation or exportation of fish or fisheries species in violation of this Code shall
be punished by eight (8) years of imprisonment, a fine of Eighty thousand pesos
(P80,000.00) and destruction of live fishery species or forfeiture of non-live fishery
species in favor of the department for its proper disposition: Provided, That
violator of this provision shall be banned from being members or stock holders of
companies currently engaged in fisheries or companies to be created in the
future, the guidelines for which shall be promulgated by the Department.

SECTION 101. Violation of Catch Ceilings. — It shall be unlawful for any person
to fish in violation of catch ceilings as determined by the Department. Violation of
the provision of this section shall be punished by imprisonment of six (6) months
and one (1) day to six (6) years and/or a fine of Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00)
and forfeiture of the catch, and fishing equipment used and revocation of license.

SECTION 102. Aquatic Pollution. — Aquatic pollution, as defined in this Code

shall be unlawful.

Violation of the provision of this section shall be punished by imprisonment of six

(6) years and one (1) day to twelve (12) years and/or a fine of Eighty thousand
pesos (P80,000.00) plus an additional fine of Eight thousand pesos (P8,000.00)
per day until such violation ceases and the fines paid.

SECTION 103. Other Violations. — The following fisheries activities shall also be
considered as a violation of this Code:

a. Failure to Comply with Minimum Safety Standards. — The owner and

captain of a commercial fishing vessel engaged in fishing who, upon demand by
proper authorities, fails to exhibit or show proof of compliance with the safety
standards provided in this Code, shall be immediately prevented from continuing
with his fishing activity and escorted to the nearest port or landing point. The
license to operate the commercial fishing vessel shall be suspended until the
safety standard has been complied with.

b. Failure to Conduct a Yearly Report on all Fishponds, Fish Pens and Fish
Cages. — The FLA of the holder who fails to render a yearly report shall be
immediately cancelled: Provided, That if the offender be the owner of the
fishpond, fish pen or fish cage, he shall be subjected to the following penalties:
(1) first offense, a fine of Five hundred pesos (P500.00) per unreported hectare;
(2) subsequent offenses, a fine of One thousand pesos (1,000.00) per unreported
hectare.

c. Gathering and Marketing of Shell Fishes. — It shall be unlawful for any

person to take, sell, transfer, or have in possession for any purpose any shell fish
which is sexually mature or below the minimum size or above the maximum
quantities prescribed for the particular species.

d. Obstruction to Navigation or Flow and Ebb of Tide in any Stream, River,

Lake or Bay. — It shall be unlawful for any person who causes obstruction to
navigation or flow or ebb of tide.

e. Construction and Operation of Fish Corrals/Traps, Fish Pens and Fish

Cages. — It shall be unlawful to construct and operate fish corrals/traps, fish pens
and fish cages without a license/permit.

Subject to the provision of subparagraph (b) of this section, violation of the above-
enumerated prohibited acts shall subject the offender to a fine ranging from Two
thousand pesos (P2,000.00) to Ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00) or
imprisonment from one (1) month and one (1) day to six (6) months, or both such
fine and imprisonment, upon the discretion of the court: Provided, That the
Secretary is hereby empowered to impose upon the offender an administrative
fine of not more than Ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00) or to cancel his permit or
license, or to impose such fine and to cancel his permit or license, in the discretion
of the Secretary: Provided, further, That the Secretary, or his duly authorized
representative, and law enforcement agents are hereby empowered to impound
with the assistance of the Philippine Coast Guard, PNP-Maritime Command:
Provided, finally, That any person who unlawfully obstructs or delays the
inspection and/or movement of fish and fishery/aquatic products when such
inspection and/or movement is authorized under this Code, shall be subject to a
fine of not more than Ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00) or imprisonment of not
more than two (2) years, or both such fine and imprisonment, upon the discretion
of the court.

Every penalty imposed for the commission of an offense shall carry with it the
forfeiture of the proceeds of such offense and the instruments or tools with which
it was committed.
Such proceeds and instruments or tools shall be confiscated and forfeited in favor
of the Government, unless they be the property of a third person not liable for the
offense, but those articles which are not subject of lawful commerce shall be
destroyed.

SECTION 104. Commercial Fishing Vessel Operators Employing Unlicensed

Fisherfolk or Fishworker or Crew. — The owner/operator of a commercial fishing
vessel employing unlicensed fisherfolk or fishworker shall be fined Five hundred
pesos (P500.00) each for every month that the same has been employed and/or
One thousand pesos (P1,000.00) for every month for each unlicensed crew
member who has been employed.

SECTION 105. Obstruction of Defined Migration Paths. — Obstruction of any

defined migration paths of anadromous, catadromous and other migratory
species, in areas including, but not limited to river mouths and estuaries within a
distance determined by the concerned FARMCs shall be punished by
imprisonment of seven (7) years to twelve (12) years or a fine from Fifty thousand
pesos (P50,000.00) to One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00)or both
imprisonment and fine at the discretion of the court, and cancellation of
permit/license, if any, and dismantling of obstruction shall be at his own expense
and confiscation of same.

SECTION 106. Obstruction to Fishery Law Enforcement Officer. — The boat

owner, master or operator or any person acting on his behalf of any fishing vessel
who evades, obstructs or hinders any fishery law enforcement officer of the
Department to perform his duty, shall be fined Ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00).
In addition, the registration, permit and/or license of the vessel including the
license of the master fisherman shall be canceled.

SECTION 107. Promulgation of Administrative Orders. — For purposes of fishery

regulation or other fishery adjustments, the Department in consultation with the
LGUs and local FARMCs, shall issue Fishery Administrative Orders or regulations
for the conservation, preservation, management and sustainable development of
fishery and aquatic resources.

CHAPTER VII

General Provisions

SECTION 108. Fisherfolk Settlement Areas. — The Department shall establish

and create fisherfolk settlement areas in coordination with concerned agencies of
the government, where certain areas of the public domain, specifically near the
fishing grounds, shall be reserved for the settlement of the municipal fisherfolk.
Nothing in this section shall be construed to vest ownership of any resettlement
area to a municipal fisherfolk for whom said areas may have been reserved for or
had been actually granted to.
SECTION 109. Municipal Fisheries Grant Fund. — For the development,
management and conservation of the municipal resources, there is hereby
created a Fishery Grant Fund to finance fishery projects of the LGUs primarily for
the upliftment of the municipal fisherfolk. The amount of One hundred million
pesos (P100,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated out of the Department’s
allocation in the General Appropriations Act (GAA) to support the Grant Fund.

For this purpose, the Department may seek financial assistance from any source
and may receive any donation therefore.

SECTION 110. Fishery Loan and Guarantee Fund. — Pursuant to Section 7,

Article XIII of the Constitution, there is hereby created a Fishery Loan and
Guarantee Fund with an initial of One hundred million pesos (P100,000,000.00),
which shall be administered by the Land Bank of the Philippines. The fund shall
be made available for lending to qualified borrowers to finance the development
of the fishery industry under a program to be prescribed by the Department.

For the same purpose, the Department may seek financial assistance from any
source and may receive any donation therefrom.

SECTION 111. Fishing Vessels Development Fund. — There is hereby created

a Fishing Vessels Development Fund to enhance the building and/or acquisition
of fishing vessels. This shall be a long-term loan facility that shall be administered
by the Development Bank of the Philippines. The amount of Two hundred and
fifty million pesos (P250,000,000.00) per year for five (5) years is hereby
appropriated out of the Department’s allocation in the GAA to support this
Development Fund.

SECTION 112. Special Fisheries Science and Approfishtech Fund. — The

Department shall provide subsidy for full technical and financial support to the
development of appropriate technology, both in fishery and ancillary industries,
that are ecologically sound, locally source-based and labor intensive, based on
the requirement and needs of the FARMCs. An initial amount of One hundred
million pesos (100,000,000.00) shall be authorized for the purpose of a Special
Fisheries Science and Approfishtech Fund, and thereafter shall be included in the
GAA.

SECTION 113. Aquaculture Investment Fund. — An Aquaculture Investment

Fund in the minimum amount of Fifty million pesos (P50,000,000.00) shall be
established for soft loans which shall be extended to municipal fisherfolk and their
organization who will engage in aquaculture, and for the development of
underdeveloped or underutilized inland fishponds.

SECTION 114. Other Fisheries Financing Facilities. — In addition to fisheries

credit guarantee, grant and other similar facilities granted under this Code,
qualified Filipino fisherfolk and fisheries enterprises shall enjoy such other
facilities granted them under existing and/or new laws, specially as to rural credit,
with preference being given to fisheries cooperatives.

SECTION 115. Professionalization of Fisheries Graduates. — There is hereby

created a Fisheries Board of Examiners in the Professional Regulation
Commission to upgrade the Fisheries Profession: Provided, however, That those
who have passed the Civil Service Examination for Fisheries shall automatically
be granted eligibility by the Fisheries Board of Examiners: Provided, further, That
they have served the industry in either public or private capacity for not less than
five (5) years: Provided, finally, That the first Board Examination for B.S. Fisheries
Graduates shall be conducted within one (1) year from the approval of this Code.

SECTION 116. Upgrading of State Fisheries Schools/Colleges. — The

Department, in coordination with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED),
Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS), and Technical Education
and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), shall upgrade State Fisheries
Schools/Colleges which provide both formal and non-formal education: Provided,
however, That the CHED shall incorporate Approfishtech in the curricula of
fisheries schools/colleges.

The Department and the CHED shall jointly formulate standards to upgrade all
fisheries schools/colleges. Fisheries schools/colleges that do not meet minimum
standards shall be closed.

SECTION 117. Inclusion of Fisheries Conservation Subjects in School

Curriculum. — Fisheries conservation subjects shall be incorporated in the
curricula of elementary and secondary schools both private and public.

SECTION 118. Educational campaign at all levels. — The Department, the

CHED, the DECS and the Philippine Information Agency shall launch and pursue
a nationwide educational campaign to:

a. help realize the policies and implement the provisions of this Code;

b. promote the development, management, conservation and proper use

of the environment;

c. promote the principle of sustainable development; and

d. promote the development of truly Filipino-oriented fishing and ancillary

industries.

SECTION 119. Infrastructure Support. — The Department in cooperation with

concerned agencies shall:
a. prepare and implement a nationwide plan for the development of
municipal fishing ports and markets;

b. prioritize the construction of farm-to-market roads linking the fisheries

production sites, coastal landing points and other post-harvest facilities to major
market and arterial roads/highways;

c. identity community infrastructure facilities such as fish landing ports, ice

plant and cold storage facilities in consultation with fishery
cooperatives/associations and prepare plans and designs for their construction
that would be consistent with international environmental impact;

d. establish and maintain quality laboratories in major fish ports and

prescribe the highest standards for the operation and maintenance of such post-
harvest facilities;

e. arrange and make representations with appropriate funding institutions

to finance such facilities for the use of the fishery cooperatives/associations;

f. develop and strengthen marketing facilities and promote cooperative

marketing systems; and

g. promote and strengthen local fisheries ship-building and repair industry.

SECTION 120. Extension Services. — The Department shall develop cost-

effective, practical and efficient extension services on a sustained basis, in
addition to those provided by state educational institutions, especially to municipal
fisherfolk in undeveloped areas, utilizing practicable and indigenous resources
and government agencies available, and based upon a system of self-reliance
and self-help.

SECTION 121. Protection of Sensitive Technical Information. — The Department

shall take such measures as may be necessary in order to protect trade, industrial
and policy information of Filipino fisherfolk, fisheries owners/operators,
entrepreneurs, manufacturers and researchers, when disclosure of such
information will injure the competitiveness or viability of domestic fisheries.

SECTION 122. Assistance in Collecting Information. — The Department, in

coordination with other government entities concerned, may require Filipino
representatives abroad and foreign-based personnel to assist in the collection of
fisheries data and information.

SECTION 123. Charting of Navigational Lanes and Delineation of Municipal

Waters. — The Department shall authorize the National Mapping and Resource
Information Authority (NAMRIA) for the designation and charting of navigational
lanes in fishery areas and delineation of municipal waters. The Philippine Coast
Guard shall exercise control and supervision over such designated navigational
lanes.

SECTION 124. Persons and Deputies Authorized to Enforce this Code and Other
Fishery Laws, Rules and Regulations. — The law enforcement officers of the
Department, the Philippine Navy, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine National
Police (PNP), PNP-Maritime Command, law enforcement officers of the LGUs
and other government enforcement agencies, are hereby authorized to enforce
this Code and other fishery laws, rules and regulations. Other competent
government officials and employees, punong barangays and officers and
members of fisherfolk associations who have undergone training on law
enforcement may be designated in writing by the Department as deputy fish
wardens in the enforcement of this Code and other fishery laws, rules and
regulations.

SECTION 125. Strengthening Prosecution and Conviction of Violators of Fishery

Laws. — The Department of Justice (DOJ) shall embark on a program to
strengthen the prosecution and conviction aspects of fishery law enforcement
through augmentation of the current complement of state prosecutors and
through their continuous training and reorientation on fishery laws, rules and
regulations.

SECTION 126. Foreign Grants and Aids. — All foreign grants, aids, exchange
programs, loans, researches and the like shall be evaluated and regulated by the
Department to ensure that such are consistent with the Filipinization,
democratization and industrialization of fishing industry and the development of
the entire country.

SECTION 127. Mandatory Review. — The Congress of the Philippines shall

undertake a mandatory review of this Code at least once every five (5) years and
as often as it may deem necessary, to ensure that fisheries policies and
guidelines remain responsive to changing circumstances.

CHAPTER VIII

Transitory Provisions

SECTION 128. Moratoria. — The Department shall, upon the recommendation of

the Bureau, have the power to declare a moratorium on the issuance of licenses
for commercial fishing vessels to operate in specified area or areas in Philippine
waters for a limited period of time if there are indications of overfishing brought
about by a decrease in the volume and sizes of fish caught therein or for
conservation or ecological purposes.

No new licenses and similar privileges on exploitation of specific fishery areas in

Philippine waters and aquaculture production areas shall be issued in accordance
with this Code. Such moratoria shall not exceed five (5) years from the effectivity
of this Code.

SECTION 129. Formulation of Implementing Rules and Regulations. — An Inter-

agency Committee is hereby created to formulate rules and regulations for the full
implementation of this Code within ninety (90) days of its effectivity: Provided,
however, That the formulated rules and regulations shall be submitted to both
Houses of Congress for information and guidance. Such rules and regulations
shall take effect upon publication in a newspaper of general circulation.

The Inter-agency Committee shall be composed of the following:

a. Secretary of Agriculture as Chairman;

b. Secretary of the Interior and Local Government;

c. Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources;

d. Secretary of Justice;

e. Secretary of Finance;

f. Secretary of Budget and Management;

g. Secretary of Labor and Employment;

h. Secretary of National Defense;

i. Commissioner of Civil Service Commission;

j. Director of BFAR;

k. Executive Director of PCAMRD;

l. General Manager of PFDA;

m. One (1) representative from each of the following:

a.1. The League of Provinces;

a.2. The League of Cities;

a.3. The League of Municipalities;

a.4. The Liga ng mga Barangay;

n. Representative of the municipal fisherfolk;

o. Representative of the commercial fishers;

p. Representative of the non-government organizations involved in fishing

concerns; and

q. A representative from the academe coming from the specialized

fisheries institution.

CHAPTER IX

Final Provisions

SECTION 130. Appropriation. — The sum necessary to effectively carry out the
provisions of this Act during the first year of implementation shall be sourced from
the budget of the DA/BFAR and other agencies performing fisheries-related
functions: Provided, however, That such amount as may be necessary to carry
out the provisions of Sections 79, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113 are hereby
appropriated out of the unappropriated funds of the National Treasury. The
Congress of the Philippines shall provide for the appropriations of the
Department, the NFRDI and the Fisheries Scholarship Program for the
succeeding years to be included in the annual GAA.

SECTION 131. Repealing Clause. — Presidential Decree No. 704, as amended

by Presidential Decree Nos. 1015 and 1058, Presidential Decree No. 977, as
amended, Executive Order No. 967, Series of 1984, Executive Order No. 116,
Series of 1987, Executive Order No. 292, Series of 1987, Executive Order No.
473, Series of 1991 and other existing laws except Republic Act No. 7611,
decrees, executive orders, and rules and regulations or parts thereof, which are
inconsistent with this Code, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 132. Separability Clause. — If any portion or provision of this Code is

declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other portions or provisions hereof, which
are not affected thereby, shall continue in full force and effect.

SECTION 133. Effectivity. — This Code shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general publication.

Approved on February 25, 1998