BANNING FISHING BY MEANS OF “MURO-AMI” AND THE LIKE DESTRUCTIVE TO CORAL REEFS AND OTHER MARINE HABITAT

Pursuant to Section 92 of R.A. No. 8550, this order banning fishing
in Philippine waters by means of “muro-ami” and the like, destructive to
coral reefs and other marine habitat is hereby promulgated for the
information, guidance, and compliance of all concerned.

SECTION 1. Definition . — The terms as used in this order shall be construed as follows:

a. “Muro-ami” — is a Japanese fishing method used in
reef fishing consisting of a movable bagnet, detachable wings and
scarelines having plastic strips and iron/steel/stone weights, effecting
fish capture by spreading the net in an arc around reefs or shoals and,
with the use of the scarelines, a cordon of fishermen drive the fish
towards the waiting net while pounding the corals by means of heavy
weights like iron/steel/stone or rock making it destructive to the
corals.

b. “Kayakas” — locally known as bahan, bahig, lukay,
lukayan, pukot, singkil, tigsil, lintig or likum-likom, is the local
version of the “muro-ami” but smaller in size, using bamboo or trunk of
trees as scaring devices aside from coconut or other leaves or material
to drive the fish out of the coral reefs while at the same time pounding
the corals which makes it destructive to the corals.

c. “Scarelines (serosca)” — is a device made up of
ropes of various diameter with length depending upon the depth of the
water, with styrofoam, bamboo or synthetic material used as floats at
one end of the rope, and stones, lead or iron chains and other material
of varying weight.  Along the rope  are plastic strips, corn/coconut
husks, coconut or other leaves or material tied at different intervals
used to scare and drive the fish towards the waiting net.  Contact and
entanglement of the scarelines with the corals is what is making it
destructive.

d. Recruiter or organizer — is the individual or group
of individuals who recruit others to work on board the fishing boat or
correspondingly the ones in charge of their protection, security and
employment.

SECTION 2. Prohibition . — It shall be unlawful
to fish in Philippine waters by means of “muro-ami” and “kayakas” or
their variations which are destructive to coral reefs, seagrass beds and
other marine habitat.

SECTION 3. Penalty. — The
operator, boat captain, masterfisherman and recruiter or organizer
violating this order shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment from two
(2) to ten (10) years or a fine from one hundred thousand pesos
(P100,000.00) to five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00), or both such
fine and imprisonment in the discretion of the court without prejudice
to the confiscation of the catch and gear used.

SECTION 4. Repeal . — All orders, rules and
regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this order are
hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 5. Effectivity . — This Order shall take
effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette
and/or two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Adopted: 14 Aug. 2000

(SGD.) EDGARDO J. ANGARA Secretary
Recommended by:
(SGD.) MALCOLM I. SARMIENTO, JR. Director Bureau of Fisheries & Aquatic Resources	SGD.) CESAR M. DRILON, JR. Undersecretary for Fisheries and Legislative Relations