SELECTED FISHERIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL OFFENSES

(A.) Fisheries and Aquatic Resources

ACTIVITIES
BASES
1. Commercial Fishing Sec. 86, PFC
in bays and FMAs, or
in municipal waters

PENALTIES
Imprisonment: 6 mos.
Fine: PhP 5,000
Confiscation
Revocation of license

2. Fishing by foreign
ships

Sec. 87, PFC

Fine: $100,000
Confiscation
Administrative Fine: $50T to
$200T

3. Dealing in illegally
caught fish using
explosives, poison,
electricity (EPE)

Sec. 88, PFC

Possession = Imprisonment:
6-24 months and Forfeiture
Actual use = Imprisonment:
5-10 years and Forfeiture
Dealing = Imprisonment: 624 months plus Forfeiture

4. Using fine mesh

nets, except for frys
and smaller fish
species

Sec. 89, PFC

Fine: PhP 2T to PhP 20T

Imprisonment: 6-24 months
DA Administrative Fine
Cancellation of Permit

5. Active gear fishing

Section 90, PFC

Boat captain and operator of

vessel: Jail for 2-6 years
Owner or operator: Fine of
PhP 2T to Php 20 T

6. Using prohibited
gears (muro-ami)

Sec. 92, PFC

Captain, operator, recruiter

or master = Jail for 2-10
years
Fine: PhP 100T
PhP
500T
Confiscation of
catch

7. Use of Superlights Sec. 93, PFC

in municipal waters,
or outside such waters
but contrary to DA
Rules

Imprisonment: 6 mos. to 2
years
Fine: PhP 100T to PhP 500 T
Confiscation of gears, vessel

8. Fishing in
overfished areas

Jail: 6 mos, 1 day to 6 years

Fine: PhP 6,000
Forfeiture
Cancellation of permit or
license

Sec. 95, PFC

9. Fishing in close
seasons

Sec. 95, PFC

Jail: 6 mos, 1 day to 6 years

Fine: PhP 6,000
Forfeiture
Cancellation of permit or
license

10. Fishing in
reserved areas

Sec. 96, PFC

Jail: 2 6 years
Fine: P 2,000 to P 20,000
Forfeiture of catch
Cancellation of
permit/license

11. Fishing
endangered, rare or
threatened species

Sec. 97, PFC

Jail: 12 to 20 years
Fine; P 120,000
Forfeiture of catch
Cancellation of permit

12. Catching Sabalo,

except for breeding or
research

Sec. 98, PFC

Jail: 6 mos, 1 day to 8 years

Fine: P 80,000
Forfeiture of catch and
equipment
Revocation of license

13. Exporting
breeders and
spawners

Sec. 99, PFC

Jail: 6 mos, 1 day to 8 years

Fine: P 80,000
Forfeiture of catch and
equipment
Revocation of license

14. Import/Export of
fish in violation of PFC

Sec. 100, PFC

Jail: 8 years
Fine: P 80,000
Destruction of live fishes, or
Forfeiture of non-lived fishes
Ban from being a member of
fishery company

15. Fishing beyond

ceilings

Sec. 100, PFC

Jail: 6 mos, 1 day to 6 years

Fine: P 50,000
Forfeiture of all catch and
equipment

16. Construction of
fish pens, corrals
without license

Sec. 103 (e),

PFC

Jail: 1 mo. 1 day to 6

months
Admin. Fine: Ph 10,000 or
cancellation of permit
Forfeiture of proceeds or
destruction of the same

17. Obstruction of
inspection or
movement of fish
products
18. Employment of
unlicensed fisherfolk

Sec. 103 (2),

PFC

Fine: Ph 10,000
Cancellation of registration
or license

Sec. 104, PFC

Fine: Ph 500/pax/mo of
employment, or Ph
1000/mo/unlicensed worker

19. Obstruction of
fish migration path

Sec. 105, PFC

Jail: 7 to 12 years
Fine: Ph 50,000 Ph
100,000
Cancellation, Dismantling

20. Obstruction of
Sec. 106, PFC
fishery law
enforcement agencies
21. Coral exploitation Sec. 91, PFC
and exploration

Fine: Ph 10,000
Cancellation of permits or
licenses
Jail: 6 mos to 2 years OR
Fine: Ph 2,000 to Ph 20,000
Forfeiture of corals and
vessel
Corals to be donated

22. Gathering and

marketing shellfish
and mollusks in
violation of prescribed
rules or quantities
23. Taking,
possessing, selling
undersize mollusks, or
without permit
24. Taking, collecting
kapis shells

Sec. 103 (c),

PFC

Jail: 1 mo. , to 6 mos.

Fine: Ph 2,000 to Ph10,000
Impoundment and
Cancellation

FAO # 11, S.
1935

Jail: 1 mo. or less

Fine: Ph100.00 or less
Confiscation

FAO # 57, S.
1986

Jail: 6 mos. to 4 years

Fine: Ph 500.00 to Ph 5,000

25. Gathering giant

clams

FAO # 168, S.
1990

Jail: 6 mos. to 4 years

Fine: Ph 500 to Ph 5,000

26. Catching, selling,

possessing,
transporting dolphins

FAO # 185, S.
1995

Jail: 6 mos. to 4 years

Fine: Ph 5,000 below
Administrative fine: Ph5,000
below or cancellation of
permit

27. Hunting, killing,

wounding of dugong
or sea cow

DAO # 55, S.
1991

Jail: 6 mos. to 4 years

Fine: Ph 500 to Ph 5,000

28. Importing and

possessing of live
piranha

FAO # 126

Jail: 6 mos. to 4 years

Fine: Ph 500 to Ph 5, 000
BFAR Director can confiscate
and kill live piranha

29. Gathering of
aquatic turtle eggs
and shells in turtle
islands

FAO # 29, S.
1974

30. Gathering marine FAO # 76, S.

turtles
1974
31. Exporting live
alimangos or crabs

FAO # 102, S.
1986

Jail: 6 mos. to 4 years

Fine: Ph 500 to Ph 5,000

32. Importing live

shrimps and prawns
of all stages by any
person

FAO # 189, S.
1993

Jail: 6 mos. to 9 years

Fine: Ph 500 to Ph 5,000

33. Gathering and

farming of seaweeds
without permit

FAO # 108 and

FAO # 146

Jail: 6 mos. to 4 years

Fine: Ph 500 to Ph 5,000

34. Extraction of
sand and gravel along
beaches
35. Quarrying of
sand and gravel

DAO # 28-92

Regulated

R.A. 7942

Cancellation of permit

36. Gathering and

exporting of pebbles

R.A. 8550, Sec.

92

Jail: 2 years to 10 years

Fine: Ph 5,000

37. Gathering,
catching, taking or
removing marine
tropical aquarium
fishes

FAO # 124 and

FAO # 148

Jail: 8 years to 10 years

38. FLA holder fails

to render yearly
report

Sec. 103 b, RA
8550

Graduated penalties
depending whether it is a
first, second, etc. offense
and cancellation of FLA

(B.) Forestry and Wildlife

1. Conversion of
Mangrove

Section 94, RA 8550

Jail: 6 years, 1 day to

12 years
Fine: Ph 80,000
Compensation for
restoration and
rehabilitation

2. Cutting, gathering
or collecting without
license

Section 78, PD 705

Jail: (ordinary theft: 612 years)

(Qualified theft:
12-20 years)
Fine: Ph 12 T Ph 20
T
Confiscation of timber,
equipment

3. Unlawful
occupation, kaingin of
forest land

PD 705

Jail: 6 mos. to 2 years

Fine: Ph 500 Ph 20 T
plus 10X rental fees
and forest charges
Eviction and Forfeiture

4. Destruction of
wildlife

Sections 55 and 82,

PD 705

Fine: Ph 100.00 or
more PER violation
Denial of permit for 3
years from violation

5. Pasturing without
permit

Section 80, PD 705

Jail: 6 mos. to 2 years

Fine: 10X rental value
of forest land
occupied
Confiscation of
livestock and
improvements

(C.) Pollution

1. Aquatic

Sec. 102, RA 8550

Jail: 6 to 12 years
Fine: Ph 80 T per day
until violation stops
Jail: 12 to 20 years
Forfeiture and
Confiscation of vessels
and aircrafts
Admin. Fine: Ph 10 T
Ph 50 T

2. Importing, storing
Hazardous Wastes
(HW)

Sec. 13 (d), RA 6969

3. Constructing
structures that
produce water
pollutants

Sec. 91, B(5), PD 1067 Jail: 3 to 6 years

Water Code
Fine: Ph 3,000 Ph
6,000

4. Dumping mine
tailings

Sec. 91, B(7), PD 1067 Jail: 3 to 6 years

Fine: Ph 3,000 Ph
6,000

5. Throwing,
dumping liquid wastes
from ships, wharfs
and mills into
navigable waters

Section 4 (b), PD 979

Marine Pollution
Decree and CA 383

Jail: 30 days to 1 year

Fine: Ph 200 Ph
10,000
Plus civil
damages

6.
Importation/storage of
HW without permit

Sec. 13(d), RA 6969

Jail: 12 years 20
years
Admin. Fine: Ph
10,000 Ph 50,000
Forfeiture,
Confiscation of vessels
and aircrafts

7. Incineration

Sec. 20, RA 8749

(CAA)

Ordinary violation:
Jail: 6 mos. to 6
years
Fine: Ph 10T Ph
100T
Gross violation:
Jail: 6 years to 10
years

8. Smoking

Sec. 24, RA 8749

Ordinary violation:
Jail: 6 mos. to 6
years
Fine: Ph 10T Ph
100T
Gross violation:
Jail: 6 years to 10
years

9. Misfueling

Sec. 28, RA 8749

Ordinary violation:
Jail: 6 mos. to 6

years
Fine: Ph 10T Ph
100T
Gross violation:
Jail: 6 years to 10
years
10. Importing,
manufacturing and
selling leaded
gasoline, and engines
requiring lead
gasoline

Sec. 29, RA 8749

Ordinary violation:
Jail: 6 mos. to 6
years
Fine: Ph 10T to Ph
100T
Gross violation:
Jail: 6 10 years

11. Violation of
standards for
stationary sources

Sec. 45, RA 8749

Fine: Not more than

Ph 100 T per day of
violation against
owner
Closure, suspension,
construction or
operation

12. Violation of
standards for Motor
Vehicles

Sec. 46, RA 8749

1st offense: Ph 2,000

below
2nd offense: Ph 2,ooo
to Ph 4,000
3rd offense: 1 year
suspension of MVR
and Fine of Ph 4,000
to Ph 6,000

13. Emission of
unnecessary or
disagreeable odor,
smoke or noise

Sec. 34(j), RA 4136

(LTC)

Fine: Ph 10 to Ph 50

1. Hunting,
disturbing, destroying
or mere possession of
any plants or animals
without PAMB permit

Sec. 20, RA 7586

NIPAS

Jail: 1 year to 6 years

Fine: Ph 5,000 to Ph
500,000
Rehabilitation or
restoration
Eviction or forfeiture
Administrative Fines

2. Dumping
detrimental waste in
PA

Same

Same

(D.) Protected Area

3. Mutilating,
defacing, vandalizing
natural objects of
beauty, scenic value,
interest to cultural
communities

Same

Same

4. Damaging and
leaving roads and
trails

Same

Same

5. Squatting, mineral
locating, occupying
the PA land

Same

Same

6. Construction
without PAMB permit

Same

Same

7. Leaving in
unsanitary conditions
refuse or debris on
the ground or water

Same

Same

8. Altering,
removing, destroying
or defacing boundary
markers or signs

Same

Same