(NAR) VOL. 25 NO. 4 / OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2014
Date Filed: 27 November 2014
Pursuant to Sections 2 (c) and (f), 3 (a),9, 16, 35 and 107 of Republic Act 8550 or the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998, this Administrative Circular is hereby promulgated for the conservation of sardines in that portion of the East Sulu Sea, Basilan Strait and Sibuguey Bay hereafter known as the conservation area of approximately 6,481.80 square nautical miles or 22,260.36 square kilometers encompassing the western municipal/national waters of Zamboanga Del Norte, the waters bordering south and eastern waters of Zamboanga City and southern portion of Zamboanga Sibugay, enclosed by lines drawn between the points and coastlines shown in the attached chart and coordinates.
Section 1. Definition. The following terms as used herein shall be construed as follows:
Section 2. Prohibition. - It shall be unlawful for any person, association, or corporation to kill or catch, or cause to be killed or caught or taken, any sardines as defined in section 1(a) in the conservation area using purse seine, ringnet, bagnet and scoopnet, or to purchase, sell, offer or expose for sale, or have in possession or under his control any sardines caught in the conservation area, during the closed season from December 1, 2014 to March 1, 2015 and every such period thereafter subject to the annual review by the NFARMC.
Section 3. Review and Adjustment - The implementation of the closed season shall be subjected to continuous research and peer review by experts from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, National Fisheries Research and Development Institute, academe, and industry experts, to determine the best management strategy that would ensure the sustainability and conservation of the sardines. Three months prior to the start of each closed season, the Director, may, upon the recommendation of the Technical Working Group created in Section 4 hereof, adjust the period of the closed season for that year, which may begin on November 15 and end on February 15, and issue an advisory for this purpose. Should there be no advisory, then the closed season shall begin on December 1 and end on March 1.
Section 4. Creation and Composition of a Technical Working Group (TWG) – A Technical Working Group is hereby created to conduct research and peer review of the closed season and provide recommendations to the Director and the NFARMC for purposes of policy adjustments. The TWG shall be chaired by the BFAR Regional Director of Region 9 and shall be composed of the following members:
Section 5. Sanctions. Violation of Section 2 of this Order shall be penalized in accordance with the applicable provision of RA 8550 and other applicable laws.
Section 6. Repealing Clause. - All administrative orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this order are hereby repealed.
Section 7. Effectivity. - This administrative order shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette and/or two newspapers of general circulation and upon registration with the National Administrative Register.
Recommending Approval:
(SGD) ATTY. ASIS G. PEREZ
Undersecretary for Fisheries and
Concurrent Director, BFAR
Approved:
(SGD) PROCESO J. ALCALA
Secretary, DA