NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
I
S. No. 520
rtf {!’: c i.'tni'P
•22 JUL 13 P2 56
f ■:;
Introduced by SENATOR CYNTHIA A. VILLAR
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.1
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; and as such, sharks play an important role in the ecosystem by 
maintaining the species below them in the food chain and serving as an indicator for 
ocean health.2 They help keep prey populations healthy by feeding on weak, sick, or 
old fishes, and prevent overgrazing of critical marine habitats.3
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
1 Save Sharks Network Philippines. (2017). 2020 Conservation Roadmap for Sharks and Rays in the Philippines.
2 https://eu.oceana.org/en/importance-sharks-0
3 Ibid.


economies through sustainable tourism activities, and through fisheries in many 
developing countries.4
Due to their unique life history traits, sharks and their relatives reproduces 
slowly, making them particularly vulnerable to threats from targeted fisheries, 
overfishing, by catch, pollution, unregulated tourism, and climate change. Declined 
populations will find it hard to recover without special conservation attention.5
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.
Given the foregoing, I recommend the immediate approval of this bill.
CYNTHIA A. VILLAR
4 Save Sharks Network Philippines. (2017). 2020 Conservation Roadmap for Sharks and Rays in the Philippines.
5 Ibid.


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
S. No.
SENATE
520
STunlr
vwC-/«0fficr of the i', r! in
‘22 JUL13 P2 56
RHCEiVED PY
Introduced by SENATOR CYNTHIA A. VILLAR
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
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
CHAPTER I
GENERAL PROVISIONS
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Section 1. Short Title. ~ This Act shall be known as the "Shark Conservation
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Act of the Philippines".
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Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to:
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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


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with the necessity of maintaining a sound ecological balance and 
protecting and enhancing the quality of the environment;
c) 
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 all 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.


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The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources of the Department of
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Agriculture (DA-BFAR) shall be the lead agency in the implementation of this Act.
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The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Environment and
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Natural Resources (DENR), 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 Department of Tourism (DOT) shall provide the necessary assistance to
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the DA-BFAR and the LGUs in identifying shark ecotourism sites and declare the
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same as protected.
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CHAPTER II
11 
DEFINITION OF TERMS
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Sec. 5. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms are
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hereby defined:
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(a) "By-catch" means the incidental take of undesirable size or age classes
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of the target species or the incidental take of other non-target species
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or protected, endangered, or threatened species.
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(b) "By-product or cerivatives" means any part taken or substance
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extracted from sharks, in raw or in processed form. This includes, but
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are not limited to, preserved sharks (curios), cartilage, gill rakers, fins,
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oil, skin, and teeth;
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(c) "Corridor" means an artificial or natural avenue where which wide-
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ranging animals can travel, plants can propagate, genetic interchange
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can occur, populations can move in response to environmental changes
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and natural disasters, and threatened species can be replenished from
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other areas. Marine corridors encompass mangroves, coral reefs, and
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seagrass beds;
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(d) "Critical Habitat" means a place or environment that contains physical
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or biological features essential to its conservation;


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(e) 
"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;
(f) 
"Discarded by-catch" means non-target species that are discarded at 
sea;
(g) 
"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;
(h) 
"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;
(i) 
"Finning" means the practice of removing and retaining shark fins;
(j) 
"Full Utilization" means use or consumption of the entire animal;
(k) 
"Habitat" means place or environment where species or subspecies 
naturally occurs or has naturally established its population;
(l) 
"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;
(m) 
"Non-dedicated Tourism Interaction Site" means opportunistic, 
accidental or unintentional interaction with marine wildlife in tourism 
and non-tourism sites;


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(n) 
"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;
(o) 
"Secretary" means the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture;
(p) 
"Shark" means cartilaginous fishes belonging to the class 
Chondrichthyes, which includes true sharks, skates, rays, and 
chimaeras;
(q) 
"Shark Sanctuary" means a designated area where sharks cannot be 
caught;
(r) 
"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;
(s) 
"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;
(t) 
"Utilized bycatch/; means non-target species that are traded or 
consumed, in part or whole.
CHAPTER III
CONSERVATION AND PROTECTION OF SHARKS, RAYS, AND CHIMAERAS
20 
ARTICLE I
21 
General Provisions
22 
Sec. 6. Information Systems, Interaction, Reiease and Possession of By-
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Products and Derivatives and By-catch. -
24 
(a) Wildlife Information. - All activities, as subsequently manifested under
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this Chapter, shall be authorized by the Secretary upon proper
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evaluation of best available information or scientific data showing that
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the activity is, or for a purpose, not detrimental to the survival of the


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species or subspecies involved and/or their habitat. For this purpose, 
the Secretary shali regularly update wildlife information through 
research.
(b) 
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.
(c) 
Swim with Captive Shark Programs. - The DA-BFAR, within one (1) 
year after the effectivity of this Act, shall develop human-shark 
interaction guideiines in captivity.
(d) 
Tourism Interaction. - The DA-BFAR, within one (1) year after the 
effectivity of this Act, shali develop human-shark interaction guidelines 
in the wild.
(e) 
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.
(f) 
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.
(g) 
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.


1 
(h) 
Handling and Release Practices. - The DA-BFAR, within one (1) year
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after the effectivity of this Act, shall develop acceptable handling and
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release guidelines from fisheries for all types of protected and/or
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unwanted sharks based on the best available science and safe release
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experience.
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(i) 
By-catch reduction measures and reporting mechanisms. - The DA-
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BFAR, within three (3) years after the effectivity of this Act, shall
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provide technical and financial assistance on research for gear
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restriction, and identify modified fishing gears to reduce shark by-catch
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mortality, which may include bait restrictions, use of different fishing
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hooks, varying hook depth, use of repellents, reducing soak time, and
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reducing number of hooks. The DA-BFAR shall also develop a standard
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reporting system for sharks that are by-catch.
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(j) 
Release and Reporting of By-catch. - Live sharks that have not been
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assessed through the NDF shall be immediately released unharmed to
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the sea. Dead sharks shall be handed over to the DA-BFAR for proper
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documentation and disposal. Any incident must be reported to the
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competent authority using the standard reporting system.
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ARTICLE II
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Protection of Vulnerable, Threatened, Endangered, and
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Critically Endangered Shark Species
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Sec. 7. Determination of Threatened Species: Vuinerabie/ Endangered, or
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Criticaiiy Endangered Species. - The DA-BFAR, within two (2) years after the
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effectivity of this Act, shall determine whether shark species or subspecies of a
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population or subpopulation is threatened (vulnerable, endangered, or critically
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endangered) based on available scientific data and with due regard to internationally
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accepted criteria, such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature (lUCN).
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Criteria include but are not limited to the following:
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(a) Present or threatened destruction, modification, or curtailment of its
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habitat or range;
I
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(b) 
Over-utilization for commercial, recreational, scientific, or educational
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purposes;
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(c) 
Inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms; and
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(d) Other natural or man-made factors affecting the existence of sharks.
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The DA-BFAR shall review, revise and publish the list of categorized
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threatened sharks within two (2) years after effectivit/ of this Act. Thereafter, the
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list shall be updated regularly or as the need arises. Provided, that a species listed as
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vulnerable threatened shall not be removed there from within three (3) years
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following its initial listing.
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Upon filing of a petition based on substantial scientific information of any
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person seeking for the addition or deletion of a species from the list, the DA-BFAR
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shall evaluate in accordance with the relevant factors stated in the first paragraph of
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this section, the status of the species concerned, and act on said petition within a
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reasonable period.
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The DA-BFAR shall also prepare and publish a list of sharks which resembles
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so closely in appearance with listed threatened wildlife, which species shall likewise
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be categorized as threatened.
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ARTICLE III
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Commercial and Municipal Fisheries
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Sec. 8. Identification of Criticai Habitats, Reference Points, Limits and
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Seasons. -
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(a) 
Identification of Critical Habitats. -The DA-BFAR, within one (1) year
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after the effectivity of this Act, shall identify critical habitats for sharks
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and establish these as shark sanctuaries.
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(b) 
Development of Target Reference Points (TRP) and Limit Reference
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Points (LRP). - The DA-BFAR shall, within three (3) years from the
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effectivity of this Act, determine TRP and LRP based on the results of
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national stock assessments and the precautionary principle.
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(c) 
Size Limitations. - The DA-BFAR shall, within one (1) year from the 
effectivity of this Act, determine the size limits for sharks.
(d) 
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.
(e) 
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.
(f) 
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


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and other services such as, but not limited to training for
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additional/supplementary livelihood.
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ARTICLE IV
4 
Traceability
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Sec. 9. System, Labeling and Identification. - All business operators identified
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in the supply chain of shark trading and utilization shall cooperate with the DA-BFAR
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in carrying out official controls, and shall have responsibilities including but not
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limited to the following:
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a) 
Implementation of traceability system. - Business operators must
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operate traceability procedures for ingredients, raw materials at all
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stages of production, processing, transport, storage and distribution,
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and be able to (i) identify any person or business operator that has
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supplied them with the species; (ii) identify any person or business to
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which they have supplied their products; (iii) the products that were
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supplied including quantity or volume, site of fishing grounds, specie,
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and fishing gear used; and (iv) make this information available to DA-
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BFAR and their consumers.
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b) 
Labeling or identification. - Business operators must ensure that their
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products are adequately labeled or otherwise identified through
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relevant documentation. They must also comply with the labelling
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requirements of the country destination.
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ARTICLE V
23 
Illegal Acts
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Sec. 10. Illegal Acts. - Unless otherwise allowed in accordance with this Act,
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it shall be unlawful for any person to willfully and knowingly exploit sharks and their
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habitats, or undertake the following acts:
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a) 
killing, taking, keeping captive, and trading vulnerable, threatened,
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endangered, or critically endangered species, except in the following
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instances;
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ii.
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When it is done as part of the rituals of established tribal groups 
or indigenous cultural communities;
When the shark is afflicted with an incurable communicable 
disease;
When it is deemed necessary to put an end to the misery 
suffered by the shark;
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) 
Finning;
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 mislabeling any product, which could mislead
consumers;
j) 
Obstruction of corridors; and
k) 
Use of shark wires.
11


ARTICLE V/ 
Illegal Acts
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Sec. 11. The following fines and penalties shall be imposed for violations of
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this Act -
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(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;
lii. 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 (PI,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 infiicted 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
12


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pesos (P20/000.00)/ if inflicted or undertaken against other wildlife
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species.
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(d) 
Disturbing sharks and their habitats: imprisonment of one (1) month to
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six (6) months and/or a fine of Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) to
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Twenty thousand pesos (P20/000.00)/ if inflicted or undertaken against
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other wildlife species.
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(e) 
Effecting acts in critical habitat(s): For illegal acts under paragraph (e)
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of the preceding section, the following penalties and/or fines shall be
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imposed: an imprisonment of one (1) month to eight (8) years and/or
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a fine of Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) to Five million pesos
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(P5,000,000.00) shall be imposed.
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(f) 
Introducing, reintroducing, or restocking of shark species without
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permits: an imprisonment of one (1) month to eight (8) years and/or a
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fine of Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) to Five million pesos
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(P5,000,000.00) shall be imposed.
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(g) 
Finning;
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Upon a summary finding of administrative liability, the owner, operator, boat
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captain and master fisherman of the vessel, or the chief executive officer in a
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corporation, or the managing partner in a partnership shall be punished with
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confiscation of the catch and fishing gears, and a fine three (3) times the value of
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the catch or the value indicated below, whichever is higher:
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(1) Twenty thousand pesos (P20,000.00) for municipal fishing: Provided,
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that if the offender fails to pay the fine, he shall render community
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service;
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(2) Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) for small- scale commercial fishing;
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(3) One hundred thousand pesos 
(P100,000.00) for medium- scale
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commercial fishing, and
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(4) Five hundred thousand pesos 
(P500,000.00) for large- scale
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commercial fishing.
13


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Upon conviction by a court of law, the offender shall be punished with
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imprisonment of two (2) years to six (6) years and fine equivalent to twice the
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administrative fine, confiscation and forfeiture of fishing gear and catch.
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(h) Collecting, hunting, possessing, importing, exporting,, or re-exporting
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sharks, their by-products and derivatives without the result of the NDF
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and full traceability at all stages, from collection to production,
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processing, transport, storage, and distribution
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Failure on the part of the shipping or forwarding company from whose
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possession the fish or fishery species imported or exported are discovered or seized
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to fully cooperate in the investigation conducted by concerned government
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authorities shall create a presumption that there is connivance or conspiracy
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between the shipping company and the shipper to perpetrate the aforementioned
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offense.
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Upon a summary finding of administrative liability, the offender shall be
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punished with an administrative fine of five (5) times the value of the species or
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Three hundred thousand pescs (P300,000.00) to Five hundred thousand pesos
17 
(P500,000.00), whichever is higher, and forfeiture and/or destruction of the species.
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Upon conviction by a court of law, the offender shall be punished with eight
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(8) years of imprisonment and fine of twice the administrative fine, forfeiture and/or
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destruction of the species: Provided, That offenders shall be banned from being
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members or stockholders of companies currently engaged in fisheries or companies
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to be created in the future, the guidelines for which shall be promulgated by the
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Department.
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(i) Falsely advertising or mislabeling any product, which could mislead
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consumers;
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Failure on the part of the shipping or forwarding company from whose
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possession the fish or fishery species imported or exported are discovered or seized
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to fully cooperate in the investigation conducted by concerned government
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authorities shall create a presumption that there is connivance or conspiracy
14


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between the shipping company and the shipper to perpetrate the aforementioned
2 
offense.
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Upon a summary finding of administrative liability, the offender shall be
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punished with an administrative fine of five (5) times the value of the species or
5 
Three hundred thousand pesos (P300,000.00) to Five hundred thousand pesos
6 
(P500,000.00), whichever is higher, and forfeiture and/or destruction of the species.
7 
Upon conviction by a court of law, the offender shall be punished with eight
8 
(8) years of imprisonment and fine of twice the administrative fine, forfeiture and/or
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destruction of the species: Provided, That offenders shall be banned from being
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members or stockholders of companies currently engaged in fisheries or companies
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to be created in the future, the guidelines for which shall be promulgated by the
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Department.
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(]) Obstruction of corridors;
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Upon a summary finding of administrative liability, the offender shall be
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punished with an administrative fine of One Hundred Fifty Thousand Pesos
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(P150,000.00) to Five Hundred
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Thousand Pesos (P500,000.00), dismantling of the obstruction at the expense
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of the offender, and the suspension or revocation of the permit or license.
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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:
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(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 (PlOO,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. 12. 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.
ARTICLE VII 
Miscellaneous Provisions
Sec. 13. 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 threshef' shark (Alooias pelagicus), which shall serve as emblems of 
conservation for the local government concerned.
Sec. 14. 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. 15. 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
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may be sold and traded, and stocks that have been produced before the end of the
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transitional period may continue to be sold or exported until exhausted.
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Sec. 16. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within twelve (12) months
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following the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture, In coordination with
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the Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Tourism, and the Committees
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on Environment and Ecology of the Senate and the House of Representatives,
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respectively, shall promulgate respective rules and regulations for the effective
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Implementation of this Act. Whenever appropriate, coordination in the preparation
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and implementation of rules and regulations on ioint and inseparable issues shall be
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done by the departments. The commitments of the State to international
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agreements and protocols shall likewise be a consideration in the implementation of
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this Act.
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Sec. 17. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is
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declared unconstitutional or invalid, the remainder of this Act or any provisions
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hereof not affected thereby shall continue to be in force and effect.
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Sec. 18. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance,
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executive order, letter of instruction, rule or regulation inconsistent or contrary to
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the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
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Sec. 19. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days
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following its complete publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general
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circulation.
Approved,
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