EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF TH E 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
S E N A T E
r o I
Senate Bill No. 
^
« D ( ( i f ' ' o i '  
■ c i . n f
'19 
JUL 16 AH :33
Introduced by Senator Juan Miguel Fi^^iibiri
AN ACT
BANNING 
THE 
CATCHING, 
SALE, 
PURCHASE, 
POSSESSION, 
TRANSPORTATION, IMPORTATION, AND EXPORTATION OF ALL SHARKS AND 
RAYS OR ANY PART THEREOF IN THE COUNTRY
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Philippines is known as the world's center of marine biodiversity because of 
its aquatic resources. Being an archipelagic country, there is no doubt that we are 
blessed with abundant marine species, which not only contribute to our advantage in 
natural resources but also serve as a tourism gem.
Sharks play a vital role in our marine ecosystem and are considered indicators of 
a healthy marine ecosystem. They are considered among the apex predators of our 
waters and help keep marine population healthy by feeding on the weak, sick and old 
fishes, and keep a balanced marine food chain. Thus, the removal of sharks from an 
ecosystem has the potential to create significant imbalance to the predator-prey 
interaction in our marine environment.
Of the many marine species found in the country, sharks and rays are among 
those that attract tourists, scuba diving enthusiasts, and the scientific community. 
However, sharks and rays are also among the most threatened groups of marine 
species not only in our country but around the world. In some areas of the country, 
sharks and stingrays are consumed as delicacies. Dried shark meat from devil rays and 
whale sharks are popular among some locals. According to the Food and Agriculture 
Organization of the United Nations, world trade in shark commodities is close to USD 1 
billion per year and by allowing the poaching and trade of these cartilaginous fishes in 
our territories, we become players in the declining population of sharks and rays. Thus, 
saving sharks mean that we are saving the future of our waters, and the lives of the 
people who depend on it.
The government needs to focus its attention to ensure that these chordates are 
sustainably managed and protected. Through this proposed measure, the issues on the 
conservation, management, and utilization of sharks and rays will be addressed. It 
seeks to ban, among others, the sale, purchase, possession, and trade of all shark and 
ray species, its derivatives and by-products and provide penalties for violations thereof.
The passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
MIGUEL F. ZUBIRI


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
S E N A T E  
S.B. No.
- 9 5
‘ 
of t >C f 1 ■ - ’’fr n>
'19 
JUL 16 All 33
Introduced by Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri
AN ACT
BANNING 
THE 
CATCHING, 
SALE, 
PURCHASE, 
POSSESSION, 
TRANSPORTATION, IMPORTATION, AND EXPORTATION OF ALL SHARKS AND 
RAYS OR ANY PART THEREOF IN THE COUNTRY
1
2
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House o f Representatives o f the Philippines 
in Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the "Sharks and Rays 
Conservation Act"
3 
SEC. 2. Declaration o f Policy. -  Pursuant to the objectives of the Convention
4 
on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, it is the declared
5 
policy of the State to consen/e, protect, and sustain the management of the country's
6 
shark and ray population. Thus, the State shall ensure the maintenance of ecological
7 
balance and marine biodiversity for the benefit of present and future generations of
8 
Filipinos.
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SEC. 3. Prohibited Acts and Penalties. -  It shall be unlawful to catch sharks
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and rays in the Philippine waters or to sell, purchase, possess, transport, import, or
11 
export the same, in any state, condition or form, or any part thereof.
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It shall also be unlawful to harm or to kill sharks and rays in the course of
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catching other species of fish. Sharks and rays, which are accidentally included in the
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catch in the course of catching other species of fish, shall be immediately released
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unharmed to the sea.
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To eliminate the demand that result in the massive killing of sharks and rays, the
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selling and serving of sharks in soup and all food menus with sharks and rays by-
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products shall likewise be prohibited.
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Specifically, the following illegal acts shall be prohibited and shall be punished
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with the corresponding penalties:
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a) Killing, destroying, or inflicting injury on sharks and rays shall be punished
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with a fine of One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,000.00) to One Million
23 
Pesos (P I,000,000.00) or imprisonment of a minimum of six (6) years and
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one (1) day to twelve (12) years, or both such fine and imprisonment;
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b) Catching, selling, purchasing and possessing of sharks and rays, and their by-
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products and derivatives shall be punished with a fine of Fifty Thousand


1 
Pesos (P50,000.00) to Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (P500,000.00) or
2 
imprisonment of a minimum of four (4) years and one (1) day to twelve (12)
3 
years, or both such fine and imprisonment; and
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c) Transporting, importing, and exporting of sharks and rays, and their by-
5 
products and derivatives shall be punished with a fine of Thirty Thousand
6 
Pesos (P30,000.00) or Three Hundred Thousand Pesos (P300,000.00) or
7 
imprisonment of a minimum of two (2) years and one (1) day to twelve (12)
8 
years, or both such fine and imprisonment.
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If the violation is committed by a juridical person or government entity, the head
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of office and the person responsible for the violation shall be held liable, without
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prejudice to any further liability for violation of any provision of other applicable laws.
12 
SEC. 4. Implementation. -  The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
13 
(BFAR) of the Department of Agriculture (DA) shall be the lead agency in the
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implementation of this Act. The Department of Trade and industry (DTI), the Philippine
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Coast Guard, the Philippine National Police, other law enforcement agencies, and LGUs
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shall likewise assist in the implementation of this Act.
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The BFAR in coordination with the Department of Environmental and Natural
18 
Resources (DENR), shall issue the necessary orders to list all sharks and rays as
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endangered species. The Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Philippine Commission
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on Sports Scuba Diving (PCSSD) shall provide the necessary assistance to the BFAR, the
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DENR, and the LGUs in identifying the habitats and feeding grounds of sharks and rays
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and declare the same as protected.
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Following the identification of the habitats and fishing grounds of these marine
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species, the BFAR shall recommend to the Secretary of the DENR, the issuance of an
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order declaring these areas as protected areas and pursuant thereto, shall ensure that
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all local governments and the media, among others, are appropriately informed.
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SEC. 5. Inform ation and Education. -  The BFAR, the DENR, the DOT, the
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DTI, the LGUs and other academic institutions shall undertake a nationwide information
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and education campaign to adequately inform the populace of the value of sharks and
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rays in the marine ecosystem, and of the importance of preserving their respective
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habitats and feeding grounds.
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SEC. 6. Im plem enting Rules and Regulations. -  Within sixty (60) days after
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the effectivity of this Act, the BFAR, in coordination with the DENR, the DOT, and the
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DTI shall issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of
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this Act.
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SEC. 7. Separability Clause. -  If any section or provision of this Act is held
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unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining sections or provisions with the provisions not
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affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.
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SEC. 8. Repealing Clause. —  All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
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regulations, issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are
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hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
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SEC. 9. Effectivity Clause. -  This Act shall take effect (15) days from its
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publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,