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RHCEiVrDB'..
_______
NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
SENATE
S. No.
r;r 
. O u
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO
AN ACT
REGULATING THE CATCHING, SALE, PURCHASE, POSSESSION, 
TRANSPORTATION, IMPORTATION, AND EXPORTATION OF SHARKS, RAYS, 
AND CHIMAERAS, AND ANY PART THEREOF IN THE COUNTRY
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Sharks are still under threat from unregulated fishing or overfishing, bycatch, 
harmful tourism practices, pollution, unjust consumption and trade, and degradation 
of their habitats. Lack of scientific data and low awareness on their conservation status 
are further compounding these threats.
The Philippines play a crucial role in conserving and protecting sharks, rays, 
and chimaeras, yet, in our country, out of estimated 200 species of sharks only 25 are 
nationally protected through the Convention on the International Trade Endangered 
Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) Appendices.
Under the Republic Act (RA) 8550, as amended by RA 10654, all shark species 
listed in CITES Appendices are automatically afforded national protection in the 
Philippines. However, the harmful management of sharks has garnered a nationwide 
attention due to the lack of national policies and regulations. Which is why it is in the 
best interest of the government to be able to provide with specific legislation tailored 
fit for sharks and the biodiversity.


This bill supports the country's commitment to protect and preserve its marine 
biodiversity and to find the intersection between management and utilization in the 
hopes of finding the balance between human needs and the integrity of the Philippine 
marine ecosystem. The conservation of sharks, management of their threats, and 
creation of shark sanctuaries through this bill will serve as an example that can be 
replicated with other fisheries and wildlife conservation issues in the country.
In view of the foregoing, I recommend the immediate passage of this bill.
T3
JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. No. 1554
of tljr
*22 NOV 28 P5:25
RI-CEIVtD B";
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO
AN ACT
REGULATING THE CATCHING, SALE, PURCHASE, POSSESSION, 
TRANSPORTATION, IMPORTATION, AND EXPORTATION OF ALL SHARKS, 
RAYS, AND CHIMAERAS AND ANY PART THEREOF IN THE COUNTRY
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines, in 
Congress assembled:
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CHAPTER I
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 1. Short Tide. -This Act shall be known as the "Shark Conservation Act 
of the Philippines".
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to:
a. Protect environmental rights of the people, promote conservation and 
ensure sustainable and equitable utilization of its coastal areas, habitats, 
and species, including sharks, in conformity with the Constitution, the 
Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998, as amended by Republic Act 10654, and 
the National Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act;
b. Ensure, for the benefit and enjoyment of the Filipino people, the judicious 
and wise utilization, protection, conservation and management on a 
sustainable basis of its coastal and fishery resources with the necessity of 
maintaining a sound ecological balance and protecting and enhancing the 
quality of the environment;
c. Protect the rights of the small and marginal fishers in the preferential use 
of communal coastal and fishery resources;


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d. Allow people's full and active participation in the conservation and 
management of the coastal and fishery resources and promote awareness 
of sustainabie fisheries through appropriate education and training;
e. Promote and adhere to the precautionary principle of conservation, 
management and exploitation of living coastal and fishery resources in order 
to assure the sustainable development of the coastal environment. The 
absence of adequate scientific and technical information should not be used 
as a reason for postponing or failing to take conservation and management 
measures; and
f. Promote ecosystem-based fisheries management.
Sec. 3. Scope of Application. -The provisions of this Act shall be enforceable 
for 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, including protected areas under Republic Act No. 
7586, otherwise known as the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) 
Act; critical habitats; and all Philippine flagged fishing vessels operating in areas 
governed by a Regionai Fisheries Management Organization, in the high seas, or In 
waters of other coastal states.
Sec. 4. Jurisdiction of the Department of Agriculture. - The Department of 
Agriculture (DA) shall have jurisdiction over sharks, rays, and chimaeras, and all 
declared aquatic habitats. In the Province of Palawan, jurisdiction herein conferred is 
vested to the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development pursuant to Republic Act 
No. 7611.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources of the Department of Agriculture 
(DA-BFAR) shall be the lead agency in the implementation of this Act. The Department 
of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Environment and Natural Resources 
(DENR), the Philippine Coast Guard, the Philippine Nationai Poiice (PNP), other law 
enforcement agencies, and Local Government Units (LGUs) shall likewise assist in the 
implementation of this Act.


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The Department of Tourism (DOT) shall provide the necessary assistance to 
the DA-BFAR and the LCDs in identifying shark ecotourism sites and declare the same 
as protected.
CHAPTER II 
DEFINITION OF TERMS
Sec. 5. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms are 
hereby defined:
a. "By-catch"the incidental take of undesirable size or age classes of 
the target species or the incidental take of other non-target species or 
protected, endangered, or threatened species.
b. "By-product or derivatives" means any part taken or substance extracted 
from sharks, in raw or in processed form. This includes, but are not limited 
to, preserved sharks (curios), cartilage, gill rakers, fins, oil, skin, and teeth;
c. 
"Corridor"mediX\s an artificial or natural avenue where which wide- ranging 
animals can travel, plants can propagate, genetic interchange can occur, 
populations can move in response to environmental changes and natural 
disasters, and threatened species can be replenished from other areas. 
Marine corridors encompass mangroves, coral reefs, and seagrass beds;
d. "Critical Habitat" means a place or environment that contains physical or 
biological features essential to its conservation;
e. "Dedicated tourism interaction site" means well-defined areas for marine 
wildlife tourism, either managed as a sanctuary/reserve/protected area or 
not, focused on a particular species or several species, with specified 
operating times;
f. 
"Discardedby-catch"medm non-target species that are discarded at sea;
g. "Disturbance" means any intentional and unintentional acts that shall 
disrupt the natural cycle and activities of marine wildlife for the short or 
long-term without necessarily causing any physical injury to the same such 
as but is not limited to acts producing noise, pollution, degradation of 
habitat, blockage of movement, displacement, and the like;


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h. "Endangered Rare and/or Threatened Shark Species" means species in 
danger of extinction as provided for in existing Philippine laws and/or the 
International Union for the Conservation of Nature Red List of Species;
i. 
"Finning"n\QdiX\s the practice of removing and retaining shark fins;
j. 
"Fuii Utiiization"means use or consumption of the entire animai;
k. "Habitat"me.dx\s place or environment where species or subspecies naturally 
occurs or has naturally established its population;
l. 
"Harassment" means an intentional or negligent act or omission which 
creates the likelihood of injury by annoying it to such an extent as to 
significantly disrupt normal behavioral patterns which include, but are not 
limited to, breeding, feeding, or sheltering;
m. "Non-dedicated Tourism Interaction Site" means opportunistic, accidental 
or unintentional interaction with marine wildlife in tourism and non tourism 
sites;
n. "Non-detriment Finding" (NDF) means a science-based risk assessment 
where the vulnerability of a species is considered in relation to how well it 
is managed;
0. "Secretary"means the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture;
p. "Shark" means cartilaginous fishes belonging to the class Chondrichthyes, 
which includes true sharks, skates, rays, and chimaeras;
q. "Shark Sanctuary" means a designated area where sharks cannot be 5 
caught;
r. 
'Traceability" means the ability to trace and follow food or a substance 
intended to be or expected to be incorporated into a food or product through 
all stages of fishing, production, processing and distribution;
s. 'Trade" means the act of engaging in the exchange, exportation, 
importation, re-exportation, purchase or sale of sharks, their derivatives or 
by products, locally or internationally;
t. 
"Utilized by catch"means non-target species that are traded or consumed, 
in part or whole.
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CHAPTER III
CONSERVATION AND PROTECTION OF SHARKS, RAYS, AND CHIMAERAS
ARTICLE I 
General Provisions
Sec. 6. Information Systems^ Interaction, Reiease, and Possession of By- 
Products and Derivatives and By-catch. -
a. Wildlife Information. - All activities, as subsequently manifested under this 
Chapter, shall be authorized by the Secretary upon proper evaluation of 
best available information or scientific data showing that the activity is, or 
for a purpose, not detrimental to the survival of the species or subspecies 
involved and/or their habitat. For this purpose, the Secretary shall regularly 
update wildlife information through research.
b. Sharks in Captivity. - No person or entity shall be allowed possession of 
sharks unless such person or entity can prove financial and technical 
capability and facility to maintain said species: Provided that the source was 
not obtained in violation of this Act, and the source of stock is verifiable to 
monitor mortality. The DA-BFAR will develop husbandry and holding tank 
standards as well as a permitting system for the keeping of sharks in 
captivity.
c. Swim with Captive Shark Programs. - The DA-BFAR, within one (1) year 
after the effectivity of this Act, shall develop human-shark interaction 
guidelines in captivity.
d. Tourism Interaction. - The DA-BFAR, within one (1) year after the 
effectivity of this Act, shall develop human-shark interaction guidelines in 
the wild.
e. Research Interaction. - The DA-BFAR, within one (1) year after the 
effectivity of this Act, shall develop research and researcher interaction 
guidelines for studies focusing on sharks.
f. Non-Detriment Findings (NDF). - The DA-BFAR, within three (3) years after 
the effectivity of this Act, shall determine the NDF for targeted and 
incidentally caught shark species.


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g. Collection and/or Possession of By-Products and Derivatives. - The 
collection and possession of species shall only be allowed when the results 
of the NDF show that, despite certain extent of collection, the population 
of such species can still remain viable and capable of recovering its 
numbers. For this purpose, the DA-BFAR shall establish a schedule and 
volume of allowable harvests.
h. Handling and Release Practices. - The DA-BFAR, within one (1) year after 
the effectivity of this Act, shall develop acceptable handling and release 
guidelines from fisheries for all types of protected and/or unwanted sharks 
based on the best available science and safe release experience.
i. 
By-catch reduction measures and reporting mechanisms. - The DA- BFAR, 
within three (3) years after the effectivity of this Act, shall provide technical 
and financial assistance on research for gear restriction, and identify 
modified fishing gears to reduce shark by-catch mortality, which may 
include bait restrictions, use of different fishing hooks, varying hook depth, 
use of repellents, reducing soak time, and reducing number of hooks. The 
DA-BFAR shall also develop a standard reporting system for sharks that are 
by-catch.
j. 
Release and Reporting of By-catch. - Uve sharks that have not been 
assessed through the NDF shall be immediately released unharmed to the 
sea. Dead sharks shall be handed over to the DA-BFAR for proper 
documentation and disposal. Any incident must be reported to the 
competent authority using the standard reporting system.
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ARTICLE II
Protection of Vulnerable, Threatened, Endangered, and 
Critically Endangered Shark Species
Sec. 7. Determination of Threatened Species: Vuinerabie, Endangered, or 
Criticaiiy Endangered Species, - The DA-BFAR, within two (2) years after the effectivity 
of this Act, shall determine whether shark species or subspecies of a population or 
subpopulation is threatened (vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered) based 
on available scientific data and with due regard to internationally accepted criteria.


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such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature (lUCN). Criteria include but
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are not limited to the foliowing:
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a. Present or threatened destruction, modification, or curtailment of its habitat 
or range;
b. Over-utilization for commercial, recreational, scientific, or educational 
purposes
c. Inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms; and
d. Other natural or man-made factors affecting the existence of sharks.
The DA-BFAR shail review, revise and pubiish the list of categorized threatened 
sharks within two (2) years after effectivity of this Act. Thereafter the list shail be 
updated regularly or as the need arises. Provided, that a species iisted as vuinerabie 
threatened shail not be removed there from within three (3) years foiiowing its initial 
listing.
Upon fiiing of a petition based on substantiai scientific information of any 
person seeking for the addition or deletion of a species from the list, the DA-BFAR 
shall evaluate in accordance with the relevant factors stated in the first paragraph of 
this section, the status of the species concerned, and act on said petition within a 
reasonable period.
The DA-BFAR shall also prepare and publish a list of sharks which resembles so 
closely in appearance with listed threatened wildlife, which species shall likewise be 
categorized as threatened.
ARTICLE II
COMMERICAL AND MUNICIPAL FISHERIES
Sec. 8. Identification of Critical Habitats, Reference Points, Limits and Seasons. -
a. Identification of Critical Habitats. - The DA-BFAR, within one (1) year after 
the effectivity of this Act, shall identify critical habitats for sharks and 
establish these as shark sanctuaries.
b. Development of Target Reference Points (TRP) and Limit Reference Points 
(LRP). - The DA-BFAR shall, within three (3) years from the effectivity of


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this Act, determine TRP and LRP based on the results of national stock 
assessments and the precautionary principle.
c. Size Limitations. - The DA-BFAR shall, within one (1) year from the 
effectivity of this Act, determine the size limits for sharks.
d. Catch Ceiling Limitations. - The DA-BFAR may prescribe limitations or quota 
on the total quantity of sharks captured, for a specified period of time and 
specified area based on the best available evidence, harvest strategies, and 
target limits. Catch ceilings may be established upon the concurrence and 
approval or recommendation of such special agency and the concerned LCD 
in consultation with the Fisheries Aquatic and Resource Management 
Council (FARMC) for conservation or ecological purposes.
e. 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. 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.
f. Support to Fisherfolk. - The Department and LGUs shall provide support to 
commercial and 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.
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ARTICLE IV 
Traceability
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Sec. 9. System, Labeling and Identification. - All business operators identified 
in the supply chain of shark trading and utilization shall cooperate with the DA-BFAR 
in carrying out official controls, and shall have responsibilities including but not limited 
to the following:
a. Implementation of Traceability System. - Business operators must operate 
traceability procedures for ingredients, raw materials at all stages of 
production, processing, transport, storage and distribution, and be able to 
(i) identify any person or business operator that has supplied them with the 
species; (ii) identify any person or business to which they have supplied 
their products; (iii) the products that were supplied including quantity or 
volume, site of fishing grounds, specie, and fishing gear used; and (iv) 
make this information available to DA-BFAR and their consumers.
b. Labeling or identification. - Business operators must ensure that their 
products are adequately labeled or otherwise identified through relevant 
documentation. They must also comply with the labelling requirements of 
the country destination.
ARTICLE IV 
Illegal Acts
Sec. 10. Illegal Acts. - Unless otherwise allowed in accordance with this Act, it 
shall be unlawful for any person to willfully and knowingly exploit sharks and their 
habitats, or undertake the following acts:
a. Killing, taking, keeping captive, and trading vulnerable, threatened, 
endangered, or critically endangered species, except in the following 
instances;
i. When it is done as a part of the rituals of established tribal groups 
or indigenous cultural communities;
ii. When the shar is afflicted with incurable communicable disease;
iii. When it is deemed necessary to put an end to the misery suffered 
by the shark;


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iv. When the shark is killed or destroyed after It has been used in 
authorized research or experiments.
b. Inflicting injury which cripples and/or impairs the reproductive system of 
sharks;
c. Harassing sharks;
d. Disturbing sharks and their habitat(s);
e. Effecting ant of the following acts in critical habitat(s);
Dumping of waste products detrimental to sharks;
Squatting or otherwise occupying any portion of the critical habitat; 
Mineral exploration and/or extraction;
f. Introducing, reintroducing, or restocking of shark species without permits;
g. Finning;
h. Collecting hunting, possessing, importing, exporting, or re-exporting 
sharks, their by-products and derivatives without the result of the NDF and 
full traceability at all stages, from collection to production, processing, 
transport, storage, and distribution;
Falsely advertising or mislabeling any product, which could mislead 
consumers;
j. Obstruction of corridors' and
k. Use of shark wires
I.
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ARTICLE IV 
Illegal Acts
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Sec. 11. Penalties. - The following fines and penalties shall be imposed for 
violations of this Act. -
a. Killing, taking, keeping in captivity, inflicting injury, harassing, and trading 
vulnerable, threatened, endangered, or critically endangered species: 
i. Imprisonment of two (2) years and one (1) day to four (4) years 
and/or a fine of thirty thousand pesos (P30,000.00) to three hundred 
thousand pesos (P300,000.00) per animal if inflicted or undertaken 
against vulnerable species;
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ii. Imprisonment of one (1) year and one (1) day to two (2) years and/or 
a fine of twenty thousand pesos (P20,000.00) to two hundred 
thousand pesos (P200,000.00) per animal if inflicted or undertaken 
against other threatened species;
ill. Imprisonment of four (4) and one (1) day to six (6) years and/or a 
fine of fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) to five hundred thousand 
pesos (P500,000.00) per animal if inflicted or undertaken against 
endangered species; and
iv. Imprisonment of a minimum of six (6) years and one (1) day to twelve 
(12) years and/or a fine of one hundred thousand pesos 
(P100,000.00) to one million pesos (Pl,000/000.00) per animal If 
inflicted or undertaken against species listed as critically endangered.
b. Inflicting injury which cripples and/or impairs the reproductive system of 
sharks: imprisonment of one (1) month to six (6) months and/or a fine of 
five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) to twenty thousand pesos (P20,000.00), 
if inflicted or undertaken against other wildlife species.
c. Harassing sharks: Imprisonment of one (1) month to six (6) months and/or 
a fine of five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) to twenty thousand pesos 
(P20,000.00), if inflicted or undertaken against other wildlife species.
d. Disturbing sharks and their habitats: Imprisonment of one (1) month to six 
(6) months and/or a fine of five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) to twenty 
thousand pesos (P20,000.00), if inflicted or undertaken against other 
wildlife species.
e. Effecting acts in critical habitat(s): For illegal acts under paragraph (e) of 
the preceding section the following penaities and/or fines shall be imposed, 
an imprisonment of one month to eight years and/or a fine of five thousand 
pesos (5,000.00) to five million pesos (5,000,000.00) shall be imposed.
f. Introducing, reintroducing, or restocking of shark species without permits: 
an imprisonment of one (1) month to to eight years and/or a fine of five 
thousand pesos (5,000.00) to five million pesos (5,000,000.00) shali be 
imposed.
g. Finning
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Upon a summary of finding of administrative liability, the owner, operator, boat 
captain and master fisherman of the vessel, or the chief executive officer in a 
corporation, or the managing partner in a partnership shall be punished with 
confiscation of the catch and fishing gears, and a fine three (3) times the value of the 
catch or the value indicated below, whichever is higher:
1. Twenty thousand pesos (P20,000.00) for municipal fishing: Provided, that 
if the offender fails to pay the fine, he shall render community service;
2. Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) for small- scale commercial fishing;
3. One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) for medium- scale commercial 
fishing; and
4. Five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00) for large- scale commercial 
fishing.
Upon conviction by a court of law, the offender shall be punished with 
imprisonment of two (2) years to six (6) years and fine equivalent to twice the 
administrative fine, confiscation and forfeiture of fishing gear and catch.
h. Collecting, hunting, possessing, importing, exporting, or re-exporting 
sharks, their by-products and derivatives without the result of the NDF and 
full traceability at all stages, from collection to production, processing, 
transport, storage, and distribution
Failure on the part of the shipping or forwarding company from whose possession 
the fish or fishery species imported or exported are discovered or seized to fully 
cooperate in the investigation conducted by concerned government authorities shall 
create a presumption that there is connivance or conspiracy between the shipping 
company and the shipper to perpetrate the aforementioned offense.
Upon a summary finding of administrative liability, the offender shall be 
punished with an administrative fine of five (5) times the value of the species or Three 
hundred thousand pesos (P300,000.00) to Five hundred thousand pesos 
(P500,000.00), whichever is higher, and forfeiture and/or destruction of the species.
Upon conviction by a court of law, the offender shall be punished with eight (8) 
years of imprisonment and fine of twice the administrative fine, forfeiture and/or 
destruction of the species: Provided, That offenders shall be banned from being 
members or stockholders of companies currently engaged in fisheries or companies
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to be created in the future, the guidelines for which shall be promulgated by the 
Department.
i. 
Falsely advertising or mislabeling any product, which could mislead 
consumers;
Failure on the part of the shipping or forwarding company from whose 
possession the fish or fishery species imported or exported are discovered or seized 
to fully cooperate in the investigation conducted by concerned government authorities 
shall create a presumption that there is connivance or conspiracy between the 
shipping company and the shipper to perpetrate the aforementioned offense.
Upon a summary finding of administrative liability, the offender shall be 
punished with an administrative fine of five (5) times the value of the species or Three 
hundred thousand pesos (P300,000.00) to Five hundred thousand pesos 
(P500,000.00), whichever is higher, and forfeiture and/or destruction of the species.
j. Obstruction of corridors;
Upon a summary finding of administrative liability, the offender shall be punished 
with an administrative fine of One Hundred Fifty Thousand Pesos (P150,000.00) to 
Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (P500,000.00), dismantling of the obstruction at the 
expense of the offender, and the suspension or revocation of the permit or license.
Upon conviction by a court of law, the offender shall be punished with 
Imprisonment of seven (7) years to twelve (12) years and fine of twice the amount of 
the administrative fine, dismantling of the obstruction at the expense of the offender, 
and the suspension or revocation of the permit or license.
k. Use of shark wires.
Upon a summary finding of administrative liability, the owner, operator, boat 
captain and master fisherman of the vessel, or the chief executive officer in a 
corporation, or the managing partner in a partnership shall be punished with 
confiscation of the catch and fishing gears, and a fine three (3) times the value of the 
catch or the value indicated below, whichever is higher:
1. Twenty thousand pesos (P20,000.00) for municipal fishing: Provided, That 
if the offender fails to pay the fine, he shall render community service;
2. Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) for small- scale commercial fishing;
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3. One hundred thousand pesos (PlOO/000.00) for medium- scale commercial 
fishing; and
4. Five hundred thousand pesos (P500/000.00) for large- scale commercial 
fishing.
Upon conviction by a court of law, the offender shall be punished with 
imprisonment of two (2) years to six (6) years and fine equivalent to twice the 
administrative fine, confiscation and forfeiture of fishing gear and catch.
Sec. 12. Escalation Clause. - The fines herein prescribed shall be increased by 
at least ten percent (10%) every three (3) years to compensate for inflation and to 
maintain the deterrent function of such fines.
ARTICLE VI
Miscellaneous Provisions
Sec. 13. Flagship Species. - Local government units shall initiate conservation 
measures for endemic and/or economically valuable species in their areas. For this 
purpose, they may adopt flagship species such as the whale shark (Rhincodon typus) 
or thresher shark (Alopias pelagicus), which shall serve as emblems of conservation 
for the local government concerned.
Sec. 14. Information and Education. - The BFAR, DENR, DOT, DTI, LGUs, and 
other academic institutions shall undertake a nationwide information and education 
campaign to adequately inform the populace of the value of sharks and rays in the 
marine ecosystem, and of the importance of preserving their respective habitats and 
feeding grounds.
Sec. 15. Transition Period. - Due to the substantially new requirement imposed 
by this Act, a transition period of three (3) years from its entry into force is provided. 
During the transition period, sharks, their by-products, and derivatives may be sold 
and traded, and stocks that have been produced before the end of the transitional 
period may continue to be sold or exported until exhausted.
Sec. 16. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within twelve (12) months 
following the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture, in coordination with 
the Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Tourism, and the Committees 
on Environment and Ecology of the Senate and the House of Representatives,
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respectively, shall promulgate respective rules and regulations for the effective 
implementation of this Act. Whenever appropriate, coordination in the preparation and 
implementation of rules and regulations on joint and inseparable issues shall be done 
by the departments. The commitments of the State to international agreements and 
protocols shall likewise be a consideration in the implementation of this Act.
Sec. 17. Separability Cause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional or invalid, the remainder of this Act or any provisions hereof not 
affected thereby shall continue to be in force and effect.
Sec. 18. Repealing Cause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, rule or regulation inconsistent or contrary to the provisions 
of this Act is hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
Sec. 19. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following 
its complete publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,
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