Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 1265

Introduced by HON. FLORENCIO C. (@ARAY

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to further protect the fishing industry in the country, amending for
the purpose Republic Act No. 8550, otherwise known as the “Philippine Fisheries Code of
1998.”

The fishing industry is vital to the Philippine economy. As an archipelagic state
with over 2.2 million square kilometers of highly productive seas, the Philippines is
fortunate to have vast fishery resources at its disposal. However, all of the country's main
fish species and marine organisms are showing signs of overfishing due to the
indiscriminate methods of catching fish such as the use of fine-mesh net, explosives, and
poisonous substances which further deplete the country’s marine resources. All these,
together with the gathering of fish eggs, fish fry and fingerlings, aggravate the shortage of
fish supply.

The Philippine Fisheries Code was enacted to proiect the fishing industry and
aquatic resources in the country and ensure the sustainable development and
conservation of our marine resources for future generations. Ten years after the passage
of the Philippine Fisheries Code, however, the fishing industry finds the strong need to
prohibit the sale of fish eggs, fish fry and fingerlings for commercial purposes, otherwise
there will come a time when there will be no more fish to catch. Hence, this measure
seeks to illustrate government's utmost fidelity to the protection and management of the
country's fisheries and aquatic resources.

In view of its vital importance, the re of this bill 's earnestly sought.

Go KS . an —


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

265
HOUSE BILLNO.

Introduced by HON. FLORENCIO C. GARAY

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR ADDITIONAL PROTECTION TO THE FISHING
INDUSTRY, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8550,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE PHILIPPINE FISHERIES CODE OF 1998

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

SECTION 1. Section 103 of Republic Act No. 8550 is hereby amended by adding
anew paragraph to read as follows:

“SEC. 103. Other Violations. — The following fisheries activities
shall also be considered as a violation of this code:

a. Failure to comply with the minimum safety standards. -
11x xxx 10K

a GATHERING OF FISH EGGS, FISH FRY AND
FINGERLINGS FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES. - IT SHALL BE
UNLAWFUL FOR ANY PERSON TO CATCH, CAPTURE OR GATHER
FISH EGGS, FISH FRY AND FINGERLINGS OF ANY FISHERY
SPECIES FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES: PROVIDED, THAT THE
PROHIBITION SHALL COVER ONLY THOSE FISH EGGS, FISH FRY
AND FINGERLINGS CAUGHT IN THE OCEAN, SEA AND LAKES AND
SHALL NOT COVER THOSE HATCHED OR PROPAGATED IN
LEGALLY ACCREDITED HATCHERIES AND PONDS: PROVIDED,


FURTHER, THAT THE PROHIBITION ON SELLING SHALL NOT APPLY
TO THE GATHERING OF FRY, FINGERLINGS, GLASS EELS, ELVERS,
TABIOS AND ALAMANG AND SUCI1 SPECIES WHICH BY THEIR
NATURE ARE SMALL BUT ARE ALREADY MATURE AS IDENTIFIED IN
THE IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE
DEPARTMENT.”

SEC. 2. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,