08/09/2025
"THINK TWICE BEFORE YOU CAST YOUR NET. LET THE OCEAN THRIVE, DON'T LET IT DIE"
REPUBLIC ACT 10654
An Act to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing, amending Republic Act No. 8550, known as the "Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998" and for other purposes;
Sec 97 of RA 10654 "Ban on Muro-Ami, Other Methods and Gear Destructive to Coral Reefs and Other Marine Habitat"
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person, natural or juridical, to fish with gear or 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 gears 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.
Upon a summary finding of administrative liability, the owner, operator, boat captain, master fisherman, and recruiter or organizer of fishworkers who violate this provision shall suffer the penalty of an administrative fine equivalent to five (5) times the value of the fish caught or Two million pesos (P2,000,000.00), whichever is higher, and confiscation of catch and gear. The fishworkers who serve as pounders shall be penalized with a fine of Twenty thousand pesos (P20,000.00) or community service in case of failure to pay the fine.
Upon conviction by a court of law, the boat captain, master fisherman, and recruiter or organizer of fishworkers shall be punished with imprisonment of two (2) years to ten (10) years and a fine equivalent to twice the amount of the administrative fine.
(b) Except in cases allowed by law, it shall be unlawful for any person, natural or juridical, to gather, possess, commercially transport, sell or export coral sand, coral fragments, coral rocks, silica, and any other substances which make up any marine habitat.
Upon a summary finding of administrative liability, the person or corporation who violates this provision shall be punished with an administrative fine of Five million pesos (P5,000,000.00) or five (5) times the value of the coral rocks, sand, or silica gathered, possessed, commercially transported, sold, or exported, whichever is higher, and confiscation of the substance.
Upon conviction by a court of law, the offender shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment from two (2) years to ten (10) years and a fine equivalent to twice the administrative fine, confiscation of catch or substances and equipment or gear used.
FAO 246-1 "Banning of the Operation of Danish Seine and Modified Danish Seine In Philippine Waters"
Section 2: PROHIBITION
-It shall be unlawful for any person to operate Municipal and Commercial Fishing boat using danish seine or modified danish in catching fish in the Philippine waters. MERE POSSESSION of danish seine or modified danish seine and/or its paraphernalia by a fisherfolk or by any person in a fishing ground or inside the fishing vessel shall constitute a prima facie evidence that the fisherfolk or the person has committed this violation.
Sec 3. PENALTY
-The owner, operator, boat captain, master fisher and recruiter/organizer violating this order shall, upon summary findings or administrative liability, suffer the penalty of administrative fine equivalent to five (5) times the value of fish caught or Two Million pesos (Php 2, 000,000.00), which ever is higher, and confiscation of catch and gear. The fishworkers who participated in the operation of the danish seine or modified danish shall be penalized by a fine of Twenty Thousand pesos (PHP 20,000.00) or community service in case of failure to pay the fine.
Upon conviction by the court of Law the boat captain, fisherfolk and recruiter or organizer of fishworkers shall be punished with imprisonment of Two (2) yeras to Ten (10) years and a fine equivalent to twice the amount of the administrative fine.
Aside from the abovementioned penalties, the danish seine or modified danish seine and/or any of its paraphernalia shall be IMMEDIATELY CONFISCATED and the vessel/boat used for the operation shall be impounded. If the boat captain, fisherfolks, and recruiter or organizer of fishworkers is engaged in any other fishery activities that requires a license or permit from the DA-BFAR, he/she shall be blacklisted.
