Administrative Order No. 263, s. 2019 establishing Fisheries Management Areas (FMA) for the Conservation and Management of Fisheries in Philippine Waters.

This Administrative Order, consisting of 25 Sections divided into seven Chapters and one Annex, establishes 12 Fisheries Management Areas (FMA) for the Conservation and Management of Fisheries in Philippine Waters. The objective of this Order is to establish FMAs and provide a science- based, participatory and transparent governance framework and mechanism to sustainably manage fisheries in such areas, consistent with the principles of Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM) based on food security, and supplementary livelihood for poverty alleviation consistent with the objectives of the Amended Fisheries Code. This Order applies to all FMAs in Philippine waters for the compliance and guidance of all concerned national government agencies (NGAs), LGUs, FARMCs, the commercial fishing industry, municipal fisher folk, academe, non-government organizations and other stakeholders directly or indirectly involved in fisheries or in the management of such areas. The taking of fishery species by passive or active gear for trade, business or profit beyond subsistence or sports fishing, to be further classified as: 1. Small scale commercial fishing - fishing with passive or active gear utilizing fishing vessels of 3.1 gross tons (GT) up to 20 GT; 2. Medium scale commercial fishing - fishing utilizing active gears and vessels of 20.1 GT up to 150 GT; and 3. Large scale commercial fishing - fishing utilizing active gears and vessels of more than 150 GT.
The municipal/city government shall have jurisdiction over municipal waters as defined in Section 16 of the Amended Fisheries Code. However, the municipal/city government may, in consultation with the FARMC, enact appropriate ordinances for this purpose and in accordance with the National Fisheries Policy; while DA-BFAR shall continue to exercise jurisdiction beyond municipal waters and commercial fisheries.