Fisheries Administrative Order No. 261 S. 2018 establishing Rules and Regulations on Fisheries Observer Programme (FOP) in the Philippines and in distant water fishing targeting straddling and highly migratory fish stocks.

This Fisheries Administrative Order, consisting of 10 sections and two Annexes, establishes Rules and Regulations on Fisheries Observer Programme (FOP) in the Philippines and in distant water fishing targeting straddling and highly migratory fish stocks. It creates a National Fisheries Observer Programme (NFOP) under the DA-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources which shall be the source of fisheries observers in the Philippines. A Fisheries Observer Programme Management Office (FOPMO) shall be established to implement the activities of the programme including training, certification, authorization and deployment of fisheries observers to collect scientific data and other information related to fishing on board fishing vessels operating within the Philippine waters including the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), or in the high seas and in the waters of other countries in coordination with the RFMOs ROP and to perform such other related functions as mandated by the Fisheries Code and Fisheries Administrative Orders, and RFMO CMMs.
Fisheries Observers shall cover all commercial Ringnet and Purse seine vessels catching more than 5 percent of four major tunas (Yellow fin tuna, Big eye tuna, Skipjack tuna and Albacore tuna) and tuna-like species and other fishing gear that catches more than 5 percent of tuna and tuna-like species in its annual production operating within Philippine waters. The two Annexes deal with the following issues: 1. Mechanics of Implementation, Fisheries Observer Programme (FOP) of the Philippines and 2. Terms of Reference, Fisheries Observer Programme (FOP) of the Philippines.