Fisheries Administrative Order No. 198-1, Series of 2018 amending Rules and Regulations on Registration and Licensing of Commercial Fishing Vessels, Fishing Gears and Fishworkers.

This Fisheries Administrative Order amends Rules and Regulations on Registration and Licensing of Commercial Fishing Vessels, Fishing Gears and Fishworkers. This Order has the following objectives: a) establish a licensing system for commercial fishing vessels based on harvest rules and reference points as determined by scientific studies or best available evidence. Preference shall be given to resource users in the locals communities adjacent or nearest to the municipal waters; b) grant priority rights in the allocation of licenses to existing Commercial Fishing Vessel License (CFVL) holders for renewal of their license; Provided, that they have no record of violation of the terms and conditions of their license; c) develop the database on commercial fishing vessels, gears and fishworkers; d) establish a system of permanent marking and identification of fishing vessels for fisheries management; e) regulate the capture fisheries sector towards achieving long term resource sustainability; f) enhance monitoring of fishing operations for fisheries management through the establishment of a vessel monitoring measures; and g) implement policies embodied in the Republic Act No. 8550, as amended by Republic Act No. 10654 and its implementing rules and regulations, which directly refers to registration and licensing of commercial fishing vessels. This order shall apply to all Philippine-flagged fishing vessels with 3.1 gross tons and above which conduct fishing operation in Philippine waters, high seas or waters of other Coastal States allowing such fishing operations.