Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

>» RECEIVED

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

House Bill No. 7912

Introduced by Representative GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO

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

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Situated at the apex of the Coral Triangle, the Philippines is part of the global center of
marine biodiversity. With over 200 species of sharks and rays in the Philippines, our
country plays a crucial role in conserving these ecologically and economically important
marine species.

Despite the lack of understanding on the sharks’ various roles in ecosystems, it is clear
that they are key players in structuring food webs, whether they are at the top of the food
chain or at lower trophic levels. Sharks are typically depicted as apex predators that have
significant top-down effects on food webs. They help keep prey populations healthy by
feeding on weak, sick, or old fishes, and prevent overgrazing of critical marine habitats.

Therefore, the removal of sharks from an ecosystem has the potential to create significant
changes to predator-prey interactions, affecting the whole system. Aside from ecological
benefits, sharks and rays have also been proven to boost local economies through
sustainable tourism activities, and through fisheries in many developing countries.

Due to their unique life history traits, sharks and their relatives reproduces slowly, making
them particularly vulnerable to threats from targeted fisheries, overfishing, bycatch,
pollution, unregulated tourism, and climate change. Declined populations will find it hard
to recover without special conservation attention.

This bill supports the country's commitment to international obligations, such as the
Convention on Biological Diversity, Convention on the International Trade in Endangered
Species, and the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species, among others. It
is also aligned with the 2020 Conservation Roadmap for Sharks and Rays in the
Philippines and the National Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of
Sharks in the Philippines.



This bill aims 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.

The passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

MACAPAGAL ARROYO
" District, Pampanga


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

House Bill No. 7912

Introduced by Representative GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO

AN ACT REGULATING THE CATCHING, SALE, PURCHASE, POSSESSION,
TRANSPORTATION, IMPORTATION, AND EXPORTATION OF ALL SHARKS,
RAYS, CHIMAERAS, OR ANY PART THEREOF IN THE COUNTRY

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

CHAPTER |
GENERAL PROVISIONS

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Shark Conservation Act
of the Philippines."

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. — \t is hereby declared the policies 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;

ic

Protect the rights of the small and marginal fishers in the preferential use of
communal coastal and fishery resources;

d)

Allow people's full and active participation in the conservation and management
of the coastal and fishery resources and promote awareness of sustainable
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 alll Philippine flagged fishing vessels operating in areas governed by a Regional
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, the
Philippine Coast Guard, the Philippine National Police, other law enforcement agencies,
and Local Government Units (LGUs) shall likewise assist in the implementation of this
Act.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) shall provide the necessary assistance to the
DA-BFAR and the LGUs 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:

*  “Bycatch” means 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.

‘© "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;

* “Corridor” means 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;

* “Critical Habitat” means a place or environment that contains physical or biological
features essential to its conservation;

* “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;

* “Discarded bycatch” means non-target species that are discarded at sea;

* “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;


“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;

* “Finning” means the practice of removing and retaining shark fins;
“Full Utilization” means use or consumption of the entire animal;

+ “Habitat” means place or environment where species or subspecies naturally
occurs or has naturally established its population;

* “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;

* “Non-dedicated Tourism Interaction Site” means opportunistic, accidental or
unintentional interaction with marine wildlife in tourism and non-tourism sites;

* “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;

“Secretary” means the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture;

* “Shark” means cartilaginous fishes belonging to the class Chondrichthyes, which
includes true sharks, skates, rays, and chimaeras;

* “Shark Sanctuary” means a designated area where sharks cannot be caught;

* “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;

* "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;

* “Utilized bycatch” means non-target species that are traded or consumed, in part
or whole.

CHAPTER Ill
CONSERVATION AND PROTECTION OF SHARKS, RAYS, AND CHIMAERAS

ARTICLE ONE
General Provisions

Sec. 6. 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.

Sec. 7. 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.

Sec. 8. 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.

Sec. 9. Tourism Interaction. - The DA-BFAR, within one (1) year after the
effectivity of this Act, shall develop human-shark interaction guidelines in the wild.

Sec, 10. 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.

Sec. 11. 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.

Sec. 12. 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.

Sec. 13. 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

Sec, 14. Bycatch 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 bycatch 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 bycatch.

Sec. 15. Release and Reporting of Bycatch.- Live 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.

ARTICLE II
Protection of Vulnerable, Threatened, Endangered, and Critically Endangered
Shark Species

Sec. 16. Determination of Threatened Species: Vulnerable, Endangered, or
Critically 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, such as
the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Criteria include but are not
limited to the following:

(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 shall review, revise and publish the list of categorized threatened
sharks within two (2) years after effectivity of this Act. Thereafter, the list shall be updated
regularly or as the need arises. Provided, that a species listed as vulnerable threatened
shall not be removed there from within three (3) years following its initial listing.

Upon filing of a petition based on substantial 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 Ill
Commercial and Municipal Fisheries

Sec. 17. 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.

Sec. 18. Development of Target Reference Points (TRP) and Limit Reference
Points (LRP). - The DA-BFAR shall, within three (3) years from the effectivity of this Act,
determine TRP and LRP based on the results of national stock assessments and the
precautionary principle.

Sec. 19. Size Limitations. - The DA-BFAR shall, within one (1) year from the
effectivity of this Act, determine the size limits for sharks.

Sec. 20. 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 LGU in consultation with the Fisheries Aquatic
and Resource Management Council (FARMC) for conservation or ecological purposes.

Sec. 21. 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.

Sec. 22. 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.


ARTICLE IV
Traceability

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:

Sec. 23. 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.

Sec, 24. 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.

CHAPTER IV
ILLEGAL ACTS

Sec. 25. 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 part of the rituals of established tribal groups or
indigenous cultural communitie:
(ii) when the shark is afflicted with an incurable communicable disease;
(iii) when it is deemed necessary to put an end to the misery suffered by the
shark;

(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 habitats;
(e) effecting any of the following acts in critical habitat(s):
(i) dumping of waste products detrimental to sharks;
(ii) squatting or otherwise occupying any portion of the critical habitat;
(iii) mineral exploration and/or extraction;
(f) introducing, reintroducing, or restocking of shark species without permits;
(g) inning;
(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;


(i) falsely advertising or mistabeling any product, which could mislead consumers;
() obstruction of corridors; and
(k) use of shark wires.

CHAPTER V
FINES AND PENALTIES

Sec. 26. Fines and Penalties. -

(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;

(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;

iil) 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 (P1,000,000.00) 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 penalties and/or fines shall be imposed: an
imprisonment of one (1) month to eight (8) years and/or a fine of Five thousand
pesos (P5,000.00) to Five million pesos (P5,000,000.00) shall be imposed.

(f) introducing, reintroducing, or restocking of shark species without permits: an
imprisonment of one (1) month to eight (8) years and/or a fine of Five thousand
pesos (P5,000.00) to Five million pesos (P5,000,000.00) shall be imposed.

(g) finning;
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;

(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 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.

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 to be created in the future, the guidelines for which shall be
promulgated by the Department.

(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;

(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.

Sec. 27. 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.

CHAPTER VI
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Sec. 28. 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. 29. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within twelve (12) months
following the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of the Department 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, 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. 30. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to implement the provisions of
this Act shall be charged against the appropriations of the Department of Agriculture in
the current General Appropriations Act. Therefore, such sums as may be necessary to
fully implement the provisions of this Act shall be included in the annual General
Appropriations Act.

The DA-BFAR may also seek financial assistance from any source and may
receive any donation therefore.

Sec. 31. 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. 32. Separability Clause. — If any section or provision of this Act is held
unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining sections or provisions with the provisions not
affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

Sec. 33. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
regulations, issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are
hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Sec. 34. 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. 35. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,