THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
FIRST REGULAR SESSION 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
ODUCED BY SENATO 
AG§AYSAY, 
J 
U 
The passage of Republic Act No. 8550, otherwise known as “The 
Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998” set in place a holistic in the protection 
and uplifting of marine life and its environ. 
The law has indeed 
inculcated positive concern and watch among law enforcers tasked to 
guard the country’s high seas. This is a good indication to initiate 
sustainable development in the countryside. 
Needless to-say, the intention of the law is for the betterment of the 
fisher folks and the society as a means of improving the country’s food 
sustenance. However, some of the provisions of the Fisheries Code of 
1998 were written in general terms, negatively inflicting the fishing 
industry and thereby hurting the life of most small fishermen. 
This bill at hand intends to introduce reforms to the code by 
amending certain provisions of R.A. 8550 in order to correct some 
measures affecting the income of fishermen. 
Amendments to be introduced in this bill will only give 
in order to have a clearer picture on its intention to which the 
So as to provide relief to our thousands of suffering 
were originally crafted after. 
immediate passage of this measure is earnestly %ought. 
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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES” 
7~: -9 
U 
INTRODUCED BY  ATOR OR 
AG§AYSA~, JR. 
I1 
’,!. I-. 
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1. Section 4(10) of Republic Act No. 8550 is hereby 
amended to read as follows: 
rcial 
- THE CATCHING OR 
CULTU 
S 
FOR 
BUSINESS OR PROFIT 
BEYOND SUBSISTENCE OR SPORTS FISHING. [The taking of fishery 
species by passive or active gear for trade, business or profit beyond 
subsisEnce 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 scale commercial fishing - fishing utilizing active gears 
and vessels of more thank one hundred fifty (150) GT.]” 
1 
. Section 4(40) is hereby amended to read as follows: 
“SECTION 4(40) Fishing Gear - Any instrument or devise nd its 
accessories utilized in taking fish and other fishery species. 
[a. Active Fishing Gear - is a fishing devise 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 impoundment; such as, but not limited to, 
trawI, 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.]” 
. Section 4 is further amended by adding the following in 
the definition of terms: 


4‘s 
( 
- 
FISHING BY 
SCRAPING THE BOTTOM 
OF THE SEA/OCEAN 
FLOO 
DESTROYS SEA GRASS, CORAL REEFS AND OTHER FISH 
SUCH AS THE USE OF FISHING GEARS CALLED BEACH 
(BALING, SARAP, DACLIS, PUKOT, SINSORO, SAOG-SAOG), 
SEINE (BULI-BULI, ZIPPER, LIKISAN, HUBOT-HULBOT), 
TRAWL (KOTO-KOTO, GALADGAD, PANG-HIPON), MOTORIZED 
NET 
(DALUNGKITAN, 
SUD-SOD), 
DREDGE 
FISHING 
( 
PANGAHIG) AND THE USE OF FINE MESH NETS SUCH AS MOSQUITO 
NETS THAT HINDER THE FOOD CHAIN OF FISH. 
x x x x x ”  
. Section 28 is hereby amended to read as follows: 
arci 
 is^^^^^^ 
- THE TAKING OF FISHERY SPECIES 
FROM THEIR WILD STATE OR HABITAT WITH THE USE OF 
EXPLOSIVES, NOXIOUS POISONOUS SUBSTANCES, ELECTRICITY, 
AND MUROAMI AND ANY OF ITS VARIATION AS DEFINED IN THE 
CODE DECLARED AS DELETERIOUS METHOD OF FISHING. 
.. The 
- THE CATCHING OR CULTURE 
OF FISH TO SUPPORT THE FISHERMAN’S HOUSEHOLD NEEDS 
WITHOUT PRODUCING A SIGNIFICANT SURPLUS FOR TRADE. 
- IS THE CATCHING OR CULTURE 
OF FI 
NT FRINEDLY-METHOD; SUCH AS, 
BUT NOT LIMITED TO, A) SUBSISTENCE FISHING, HOOK A LINE; B) 
FISH CAGES AND FISH PENS.” 
PURSE SEINE, TAKSAY, KALANSISI, LONG-LINE; C) AQUACULTURE 
. Section 18, second paragraph is hereby amended to read 
as follows: 


- 
.- 
__ . 
. Section 90, first paragraph is hereby amended to read 
as follows: 
ALL BAYS AS WELL AS OTHER MANAGEMENT AREAS USING 
shall be unlawful to engage in fishing in municipal waters and in 
bays 
as well as other fishery management areas using active fishing ge rs as 
ause - All laws, decrees, orders, rul -” 
s and 
defined in this Code.]” 
consistent with the Act are hereby repealed 
DESTRUCTIVE FISHING-METHOD AS DEFINED IN THIS CODE. 
[It 
regul 
or modified accordingly. 
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- This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
following its complete publication in at least two (2) newspapers of 
general circulation. 
Approved, 
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