The Bureau of Fisheries
and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) is the government agency
responsible for the development, improvement, management
and conservation of the country's fisheries and aquatic
resources. It was reconstituted as a line bureau by
virtue of Republic Act No. 8550 (Philippine Fisheries
Code of 1998). The bureau is under the Department
of Agriculture.
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Prepare and implement a comprehensive
National Fisheries Industry Development Plan; |
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Issue
licenses for the operation of commercial fishing
vessels; |
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Issue
identification cards free of charge to fishworkers
engaged in commercial fishing; |
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Monitor
and review joint fishing agreements between
Filipino citizens and foreigners who conduct
fishing activities in international waters and
ensure that such agreements are not contrary
to Philippine commitment under international
treaties and convention on fishing in the high
seas; |
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Formulate and implement a
Comprehensive Fishery Research and Development
Program, such as, but not limited to, sea
farming, sea ranching, tropical / ornamental
fish and seaweed culture, aimed at increasing
resource productivity improving resource use
efficiency, and ensuring the long term sustainability
of the county's fishery and aquatic resources;
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Establish
and maintain a comprehensive Fishery Information
System; |
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Provide extensive development
support services in all aspects of fisheries
production, processing and marketing;
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Provide
advisory services and technical assistance on
the improvement of quality of fish from the
time it is caught (i.e., on board fishing vessels,
at landing areas, fish markets, to the processing
plants and to the distribution and marketing
chain); |
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Coordinate
efforts relating to fishery production undertaken
by the primary fishery producers, LGUs, FARMCs,
fishery and organization / cooperatives; |
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Advise
and coordinate with LGUs on the maintenance
of proper sanitation and hygienic practices
in fish markets and fish landing areas; |
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Establish a corps of specialists
in collaboration with the Department of National
Defense, Department of the Interior and Local
Government and Department of Foreign Affairs
for the efficient monitoring, control and
surveillance of fishing activities within
Philippine territorial waters and provide
the necessary facilities, equipment and training
thereof;
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Implement
and inspection system for import and export
of fishery / aquatic products and fish processing
establishments consistent with international
standards to ensure product quality and safety; |
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Coordinate with LGUs and
other concerned agencies for the establishment
of productivity-enhancing and market development
programs in fishing communities to enable
women to engage in other fisheries / economic
activities and contribute significantly to
development efforts;
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Enforce all laws, formulate
and enforce all rules and regulations governing
the conservation and management of fishery
resources, except in municipal waters and
to settle conflicts of resource use and allocation
in consultation with the NFARMC, LGUs and
local FARMCs;
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Develop value-added fishery
products for domestic consumption and export;
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Recommend measures for the
protection / enhancement of the fishery industries;
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Assist
the LGUs in developing their technical capability
in the development, management, regulation conservation
and protection of the fishery resources; |
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Formulate
rules and regulations for the conservation and
management of straddling fish stocks and highly
migratory fish stocks; and |
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Perform
such other related functions which shall promote
the development, conservation, management protection
and utilization of fisheries and aquatic resources. |
