NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
cuny
■22 AUG-8 AID ;04
SENATE
S.B. No. 1052
RCCEIVED B'.:
Introduced by SEN. WIN GATCHALIAN
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 center of marine biodiversity, having 
about two-thirds of the known marine species of the Pacific living in its coastal 
waters. Sharks as predators of the sea, play a vital role in regulating 
the ecological balance, particularly the health of important commercial fish species, 
population balance and protection of coral reefs. As such, our country plays a crucial role 
In protecting these marine species.
Despite their importance, these sea creatures have been hunted by humans for 
their meat and fins. CNN and a conservation group called Shark Savers state that, "Up 
to 100 million sharks are killed annually. With some shark populations declining by as 
much as 90 percent."
Numerous laws have been put in place to protect our environment and its flora 
and fauna. The 1987 Constitution provides that, "The State shall protect and advance 
the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology In accord with the rhythm 
and harmony of nature."
Republic Act No. 9147 or the "Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection


Act", recognize the need "to conserve the country's wildlife resources, their habitats and 
sustainability," and to work towards and initiate scientific studies towards enhancement 
of biological diversity. Republic Act No. 8550, also known as "The Fisheries Code," 
declares as a policy the "conservation, protection and sustained management of the 
country's fishery and aquatic resources," while E.O. no. 578 makes it a policy to protect 
and conserve biodiversity of ecosystems, species and genes.
Our domestic laws also acknowledge our commitment to international conventions 
for the protection of wildlife and their habitats, such as the Convention on International 
Trade on Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna1, which seeks to ensure that the 
survival of wild animals and plants are not threatened due to international trade. The 
same Convention also describes shark species as either threatened with extinction or 
those whose trade must be controlled to avoid utilization that is incompatible with their 
survival.
Although sharks and rays have not been officially declared endangered, 
their population has drastically declined over the years not only because of 
environmental decline but more importantly, due to over-fishing for human 
consumption. According to the World Wildlife Fund report2, the total value of shark and 
ray trade in the period of 2012 to 2019 exceeds US$4.1 billion.
As they reproduce slowly, sharks and rays are in danger of becoming extinct if we 
do not proactively protect them. Through this proposed measure, we hope to conserve
the integrity of the Philippine marine ecosystem.
As such, I urge that this measure be passed with dispdtch.
1 Ratified in August 1981
2 Simone Nieedermuller, et al.. The Shark and Ray Meat Network; A Deep Dive into a Global Affair (2021);
https://sharks.panda.org/images/downIoads/392/WWF_MMI_GIobal_shark_ray_meat_trade_report_202
l_lowres.pdf


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
SENATE
S.B. No. 1052
Jennie
•22 AUG-8 AlO :04
RECEIVED BV.
Introduced by SEN. WIN GATCHALIAN
AN ACT
BANNING THE CATCHING, SALE, PURCHASE, POSSESSION, 
TRANSPORTATION, IMPORTATION, AND EXPORTATION OF ALL SHARKS 
AND RAYS OR ANY PART THEREOF IN THE COUNTRY, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Phiiippines 
in Congress assembied:
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SECTION 1. Short Tide. - This Act shall be known as the "Sharks and Rays 
Conservation Act".
SEC. 2. Deciaration ofPoiicy. - It is a declared policy of the State to conserve, 
protect and sustain the management of the country's fisheries and aquatic resources, 
including sharks and rays. Towards this end, the State shall adhere and promote the 
principle of conservation, management, and exploitation of living coastal and fishery 
resources, especially sharks and rays and their habitats, to assure the sustainable 
development of the coastal environment and prevent their endangerment.
SEC. 3. Prohibited Acts. -It shall be unlawful to willfully and knowingly catch, 
kill or keep captive sharks and rays in Philippine waters, or to sell, purchase, possess, 
collect, transport, import, export, or re-export the same in any state, condition or 
form, or any part thereof. It shall likewise be unlawful to harass, disturb or hunt 
sharks and rays, and their habitats.


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Unless there is a threat to human life and limb, it shall also be unlawful to
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harm, wound or kill sharks and rays, even if done in the course of catching other
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species offish. Sharks and rays, which are accidentally included in the catch shall be
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Immediately released unharmed in the sea.
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To eliminate the demand that results in the massive killing of sharks and rays,
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the offering, selling, and serving of shark or ray meat, including fins, by-products and
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derivatives, and cooked or uncooked food containing or using shark or ray meat, fins,
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by-products and derivatives in Its preparation or final product, in any market,
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restaurant, food stall or similar establishments shall be prohibited. For this purpose,
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the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) shall prepare a phase-out plan for the
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offer, sale and serving of food using shark or ray meat, including fins, by-products
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and derivatives in restaurants, food stalls and similar establishments, and advise
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owners of these establishments on the matter.
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It shall also be prohibited to falsely advertise or mislabel as to the content or
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use of shark or ray meat, its fins, by-products and derivatives in any product that
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could mislead consumers, shipping or forwarding companies. Failure on the part of
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the shipping or forwarding company from whose possession the shark or ray meat,
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fins, by-products or derivatives are discovered or seized to fully cooperate in the
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Investigation conducted by concerned government authorities shall create a
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presumption of connivance or conspiracy between the shipping company and the
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shipper to perpetrate the aforementioned offense.
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SEC. 4. Implementation. - The Department of Agriculture (DA), through the
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Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), the Department of Tourism
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(DOT), and the DTI, referred herein as "implementing agencies" shall lead and
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coordinate in the Implementation, enforcement, and monitoring of compliance with
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the provisions of this Act. The Philippine Coast Guard, the Philippine National Police
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(PNP), other law enforcement agencies, and local government units (LGUs) shall
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likewise assist in the implementation of this Act.
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The DA, through the BFAR, and the Department of Environment and Natural
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Resources (DENR) shall take steps to issue the necessary orders to list all sharks and
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rays as endangered species.


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The DOT and the Philippine Council for Sports Scuba Diving shall also 
coordinate with the DENR, BFAR, and the LGUs to identify the habitats and feeding 
grounds of sharks and rays and declare the same as protected tourism estates. Upon 
the identification of these areas, they shall be promoted for restorative eco-tourism.
SEC. 3. Information and Education. - The Department of Education, 
in cooperation with other academic institutions, such as the UP Marine Science 
Institute, and Silliman Marine Laboratory, shall undertake a nationwide information 
and education campaign to make Filipinos understand the value of sharks and rays 
in the marine eco-system and to tourism.
SEC. 4. Assistance and Regular Reporting. - The implementing agencies shall 
seek the assistance of the PNP, other law enforcement agencies and local government 
units for the implementation of this Act, and jointly report to the Office of the 
President every month on the progress of the initiative.
SEC. 5. Pena! Provisions. - Any person who violates this Act or any rules and 
regulations issued by the implementing agencies pursuant to this Act and is found 
guilty by the competent court shall be fined an amount of not less than Five 
Thousand Pesos (Php5,000.00) but not more than Five Hundred Thousand 
Pesos (Php500,000.00), or suffer imprisonment for one (1) year but not more than 
six (6) years, or both, as determined by the court. The offender shall also be 
required to compensate for the damage. Provided further. That the court shall 
order the forfeiture of all shark and ray products collected, including all 
equipment, devices and firearms used in connection therewith, in favor of the 
government. If the offender is an association or a corporation, the president or 
manager shall be directly responsible for the acts of his employees or laborers.
SEC. 6. Separability Clause. - Should any part of this Act be declared 
Invalid or unconstitutional, the rest of the provisions of this Act shall continue 
to be in effect and subsisting.


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SEC. 7. Repealing Clause. - Any law, executive order, letter of
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instruction, rules and regulations, circulars, issuances or any part thereof
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inconsistent with any of the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified
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or amended accordingly.
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SEC. 8. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
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after its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of
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general circulation.
Approved,