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Guidelines on the Implementation of the Fisheries Compliance Audit (FishCA)

Under Section 16 of the Philippine Fisheries Code, Republic Act No. 8550 as amended by R.A. No. 10654, the local government units shall have jurisdiction over municipal waters and shall be responsible for the management, conservation, development, protection, utilization, and disposition of all fish and fishery/aquatic resources within their respective municipal waters.

The Department reminds LGUs to ensure that fishery laws and policies are enforced, followed, and implemented in their areas of jurisdiction.

The fisheries' compliance audit (FishCA) is developed to reinforce the responsibilities of LGUs under the Philippines Fisheries Code, and assess its compliance to the Code's pertinent provisions.

Enactment of City/Municipal Fisheries Ordinance (MFO) that at the minimum :

1. Delineate the boundaries of the municipal waters

2. Provides the rules and regulations on licensing and permits for other fisheries activities, including the number of licenses and permits that may be issued

All LGUs shall enact an MFO 

One of the indicators being monitored under the FISHCA is the number of LGUs that permit the entry of Commercial Fishing Vessels (CFVS) into their municipal waters.

Under the Philippine Fisheries Code, Municipal Waters are reserved fro small scale and subsistence fisherfolk. However, LCEs may authorize and permit small and medium CFVS to operate within 10.1 to 15 KM zone from the shoreline with conditions.

Legal Bases / References

• Advisory 2026.01.06 Update on the Official Link for the Fisheries Compliance Audit (FISHCA) Data Capture Form (DCF) Submission of Reports

• Advisory 2025.06.02 Conduct of Fisheries Compliance Audit (FISHCA) Validation Process

• Unnumbered Memo 2024.11.06 Request for Status Update of All Concerned Coastal Local Government Units Allowing Entry of Commercial Fishing Vessels in Their Municipal Waters

• MC 2024 - 116 Guidelines for Coastal Local Government Units on the Rollout and Implementation of the Philippine Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing Index and Threat Assessment Tool (I-FIT)

• MC 2023 - 012 Guidelines in the Enactment and/Or Updating of the Municipal/City Fisheries Ordinance of Coastal Local Government Units 

• MC 2021 - 051 Reiteration and Amendment of Provisions of DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2018-147 "Guidelines on the Implementation of the Fisheries Compliance Audit (FishCA)"

• MC 2018 - 147 Guidelines on the Implementation of the Fisheries Compliance Audit (FishCA) 

• MC 2018 - 059 Policies and Guidelines on the Regulation and Monitoring of Fishery Activities in Municipal Waters

LGMED References

• R10-LGMED-2026-01-16-013 UPDATE ON THE OFFICIAL LINK FOR THE FISHERIES COMPLIANCE AUDIT (FISHCA) DATA CAPTURE FORM (DCF) SUBMISSION OF REPORTS 

• R10-LGMED-2025-06-16-007ADVISORY DATED JUNE 02, 2025 RE: CONDUCT OF FISHERIES COMPLIANCE AUDIT (FISHCA) VALIDATION PROCESS