Here are some key points of discussion regarding RA 10654:
●Enhanced Penalties: The act imposes stricter penalties for those engaged in IUU fishing, including hefty fines and imprisonment.
●Monitoring Systems: It mandates the use of vessel monitoring systems to track fishing activities and ensure compliance with regulations.
●Port State Measures: The act enforces port state measures to prevent IUU-caught fish from entering the market.
●Sustainable Practices: It promotes sustainable fishing practices to protect marine biodiversity and ensure the long-term viability of fishery resources.
●International Compliance: RA 10654 aligns with international agreements like the United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement and the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries.
●The act is a significant step towards sustainable fisheries management and the protection of the Philippines’ marine environment.
This Act shall be known as The Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998 as
amended by Republic Act No. 10654, entitled "An Act to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing."
Republic Act No. 10654 Section 3
Section 3 of Republic Act No. 10654 outlines the enforcement scope of the Philippine Fisheries Code. It specifies that the provisions of the Code shall be enforced in:
1. All Philippine waters, including areas where the Philippines has sovereignty and jurisdiction, and the country’s 200-nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and continental shelf.
2. All aquatic and fishery resources, whether inland, coastal, or offshore, including fishponds and fish pens/cages.
3. All lands devoted to aquaculture, or businesses and activities related to fishery, on both private and public lands.
4. All Philippine-flagged fishing vessels operating in areas governed by a Regional Fisheries
Management Organization (RFMO), in the high seas, or in waters of other coastal states.
This section ensures that the Fisheries Code’s regulations apply broadly to manage and protect the country’s aquatic resources effectively.
Republic Act No. 10654 Section 105
This section pertains to the regulations for importing and exporting fish and fishery products to prevent illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. It includes requirements for documentation, safety, quality standards, and sustainable practices.
●Importing or exporting fish in violation of the Code is illegal.
●Shipping companies must fully cooperate with investigations; failure to do so suggests collusion.
●Administrative fines for violations are five times the value of the species or ₱300,000-₱500,000, plus forfeiture or destruction of the species.
●Criminal penalties include eight years of imprisonment, double the administrative fine, forfeiture or destruction of the species, and a ban from participating in fishery-related businesses.
Rule 105.1: Within a year, the DA-BFAR will list species prohibited from import/export with regular updates.
Rule 105.2: Shipping companies must submit requested documents within five days to be considered as fully cooperating with investigations.
Read the sentences and fill in the missing words. Choose the correct answer from the list
below.
Aquaculture
Aquatic
Fish
Illegal
Philippine
1. All _______________ and fishery resources, whether inland, coastal, or offshore, including fishponds, fish pens/cages.
2. RA 10654An Act to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate _______________, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing.
3. All lands devoted to ________________________, or businesses and activities related to fishery, on both private and public lands.
4. Any importation or exportation of __________ or fishery species in violation of this Code shall be unlawful.
5. All _____________________ waters, including areas where the Philippines has sovereignty and
jurisdiction.