Bureau of Fisheries and

Aquatic Resources
2103:
Alano, Mike Kaizer B.
Macalla, Jasmin
Reyes, Jaica mae
Rosal, Laica
MISSION:

“To ensure sustainable use of fisheries and aquatic

resources by empowering fisher folk towards
productivity and resiliency.”
VISION:

“ An Institution of excellence in sustainable fisheries

management and innovative services contributing to
the nation's food security and improving fisher folk
quality of life.”
GOALS:
To attain the vision of a sustainable and competitive fisheries industry we must
have:
• a. Sufficient contribution to national food security;
• b. Inclusive growth within the industry
• c. Sustainable, science-based fisheries and aquatic resource
management practices;
• d. Compliance to international laws, policies, and standards, and
enforcement of local laws and regulations;
• e. Strengthened capacities in infrastructure, technologies, human
resource, and information sharing; and
• f. Resilience to environmental hazards.
LOGO:

• logo signifies inter-connectivity between

the elements: the corals, the fishes, and
the people. The corals represent the
aquatic habitats where biodiversity starts
to see life.
• The history of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources began
when the country's civil government was established on July 4, 1901.
During the early days of the war, the Division of Fisheries and the Bureau of Forestry
merged together and became known as the Bureau of Forestry and Fishery.
• In the latter part of the enemy's occupation the Division of Fisheries was converted into
an independent office known as the Bureau of Fisheries.
• Three years after liberation from the enemy's occupation, the Congress of the Philippin
es, cognizant of the importance of fisheries and aquatic resources conservation to the re
habilitation of the country's prostrate economy brought about by the war, enacted Repu
blic Act No. 177 creating the Bureau of Fisheries which took effect on July 1, 1947.
• The former Division of Fisheries and its sections, field districts, and experimental stati
ons including fishery-related activities all of national government
agencies all of national government agencies were integrated in the
Bureau of Fisheries Executive Order No. 216, dated November
17, 1956 implemented Reorganization Plan No. 30- A reorganizing the
Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
• On September 20, 1972, under the Integrated Reorganization Plan, the
Philippine Fisheries mission was reverted to the Bureau of Fisheries.
• Two years thereafter, by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 461 signed on May
17, 1974 which reorganized the Department of Agriculture and the
Department of Natural Resources, the agency was renamed as Bureau of Fisheries and
Aquatic Resources.
• While at the height of Social Reform Agenda (SRA) implementation where the
government actively pushed for the equal access to development opportunities in
addressing the long-standing problem of poverty among other related issues including
that of the environment, on 25 February 1998 President Fidel V. Ramos signed into law
Republic Act No. 8550.
LAW THAT CREATES (BUREAU OF FISHERIES
AND AQUATIC RESOURCES):

• Fisheries Code Republic Act 8550 - PHILIPPINE FISHERIES CODE OF 1998.

An act providing for the development, management and conversation of the
fisheries and aquatic resources, integrating all laws pertinent thereto, and for other
purposes.
• Republic Act No. 10654 - An act to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported
and unregulated fishing, amending Republic Act No. 8550, otherwise known as
"The Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998" and for other purposes.
 POWER AND FUNCTION:

“The bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) is the government

agency responsible for the development, improvement, management and
conversion of the country's fisheries and aquatic resources. It was reconstituted as
a line bureau by virtue of Republic Act No. 8550 ( Philippine Fisheries Code of
1998). The bureau is under the Department of Agriculture.”
 AS A LINE BUREAU, BFAR HAS THE FOLLOWING
FUNCTIONS:

• Develop value - added fishery products for domestic consumption and export.
• Recommend measures for the protection/ enhancement of the fishery industries.
• Implement and inspection system for import and export of fishery/aquatic products and fish
processing establishments consistent with international standards to ensure product quality and
safety.
• Formulate rules and regulations for the conservation and management of straddling fish sticks
and highly migratory fish stocks.
• Perform such other related function which shall promote the development, conservation,
management protection and utilization of fisheries and aquatic resources .
 PRIMARY INVESTIGATIVE JURISDICTION OF
(BUREAU OF FISHERIES AND AQUATIC RESOURCES):

“The Code makes provision for the management and conservation of

fisheries and aquaculture in the Philippines and the reconstitution or
establishment of fisheries institutions both at the national and local
level.”
 SECTION 2.
The state shall ensure the attainment of the following objectives of the fishery sector:

1. Conservation, protection and sustained management of the country's fishery and aquatic resources;

2. Poverty alleviation and the provision of supplementary livelihood among municipal fisher folk;

3. Improvement of productivity of aquaculture within ecological limits;

4. Optimal utilization of offshore and deep-sea resources; and

5. Upgrading of post-harvest technology.

CHAPTER I

• It declares the policy of the State with respect to fisheries and contains a large
definitions section. It is a declared policy to limit access to the fishery and
aquatic resources of the Philippines for the exclusive use and enjoyment of all
citizens, including women and youth sectors. Another principle of policy is the
protection of municipal fishermen.
CHAPTER II

• contains the main body of rules relative to the management and conservation of
fisheries and to aquaculture. Fisheries are classified in municipal fisheries, i.e.
fishing in municipal waters, and commercial fishing. It also regulate post-harvest
facilities, activities and trade.
 CHAPTER III

• Councils are created under this provision. These institutions shall assist in the
formulation of national policies and local policies respectively. The Department of
Fisheries may designate areas in Philippine waters beyond 15 kilometers of the
shoreline as fishery reservation or fish refuges and sanctuaries in bays, foreshore
lands, continental shelf or any fishing ground to be set aside for the cultivation of
mangroves to strengthen the habitat and the spawning grounds of fish.
CHAPTER IV

Fishery Reserves, Refuge and Sanctuaries.

SECTION 80. Fishing Areas Reserves for Exclusive Use of Government. The
Department may designate area or areas in Philippine waters beyond fifteen (15)
kilometers from shoreline as reservation for the exclusive use of the government or any
of its political subdivisions, agencies or instrumentalities, for propagation, educational,
research and scientific purposes:
SECTION 81.

Fish Refuge and Sanctuaries. — The Department may establish shelf refuge and
sanctuaries to be administered in the manner to be prescribed by the BFAR at least
twenty-five percent (25%) but not more than forty percent (40%) of bays, foreshore
lands, continental shelf or any shining ground shall be set aside for the cultivation of
mangroves to strengthen the habitat and the spawning grounds. Within these areas
no commercial shall be allowed.
CHAPTER V

• Fisheries research and development

CHAPTER VI

• Prescribe penalties and offences

AMENDED BY:

• Republic Act No. 10654 amending Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998. on February
27, 2015
- Fisheries Administrative Order No. 198-1, Series of 2018 amending Rules and
Regulations on Registration and Licensing of Commercial Fishing Vessels, Fishing
Gears and Fish workers. on 04 Sep 2018.
IMPLEMENTED BY:

• Implementation of Republic Act No. 8550 known as the Fisheries Code of 1998
(Administrative Order No. 3 of 1998 of the Department of Agriculture). On May 08,
1998.
- It aims to deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. It is
observed to further insure that fishery resources are not exploited, unlawful fishing
practices are controlled, minimized and management arrangements are implemented.
• EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 154
WHEREAS, illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing undermines national and regional efforts
to manage fisheries in a sustainable manner, destroys marine habitats, depletes fish stocks worldwide,
and threatens the food and livelihood security of coastal communities;

WHEREAS, there is a need to address the ecological, biological, and socio-economic challenges posed
by (IUU) fishing in a coordinated and integrated manner through a collaborative institutional mechanism
involving the concerned departments and agencies of the government;
• Fisheries Administrative Order No. 195 of 1999- establishing Rules and Regulations Governing
Importation of Fresh/Chilled/Frozen and Fishery Aquatic Products. on Oct 09, 1999.
• Administrative Circular No. 252·.1 of 2020 Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) -
Promulgating the Amended Rules and Regulations Governing Distant-Water Fishing by Philippine
Flagged Fishing Vessels Operating in Other Coastal States. on Feb 03, 2020.
• Fisheries Administrative Order No. 266 Series of 2020- promulgating the Rules and Regulations on
the Implementation of Vessel Monitoring Measures (VMM) and Electronic Reporting System (ERS)
for Commercial Philippine Flagged Fishing Vessels Amending Fisheries Administrative Order No.
260 Series of 2018. on Oct 12, 2020.
BFAR OPERATIONS: