BFAR Administrative Order No. 253, s. 2014 on the Moratorium on the issuance of Commercial Fishing Vessel and Gear Licence and Other Clearances. Country/Territory Philippines Document type Regulation Date 2014 Source FAO, FAOLEX Subject Fisheries Keyword Fishery management and conservation Marine fisheries Fishing gear/fishing method Use restrictions Fishing authorization Fishing vessel Landing Foreign fishing Authorization/permit Geographical area Asia, Asia and the Pacific, East Asian Seas, North Pacific, South-Eastern Asia Entry into force notes This Administrative Order enters into force 15 days after its publication in any newspaper of general circulation. Abstract This Administrative Order, consisting of 10 Sections, establishes the Moratorium on the issuance of Commercial Fishing Vessel and Gear Licence and Other Clearances. The moratorium shall be imposed for a period of 3 years after 6 months from the entry into force of this Circular. It shall apply to any commercial fishing vessel using all types of nets or gears whether in an active or passive manner. It shall cover the conversion of passenger or cargo vessels into fishing vessels as well as the issuance of construction clearance and importation of all types of commercial fishing vessels. It shall apply to owners of unregistered and unlicensed commercial fishing vessels and gears who fail to avail of the grace period provided in Section 4 hereof (with the exception of Danish Seiners). These owners are prohibited from transferring their vessel or gears by sale or otherwise to fishing companies, operators, partnerships or persons, particularly to those who were issued construction or import clearance. The moratorium shall not apply to the renewal of existing CFVGL, provided, that should there be an increase in the gross tonnage of the commercial fishing vessel subject of the application for renewal, the same should not exceed 250 gross tons, provided further that the gear registration is for the same previously registered gear or new fishing gear belonging to the same gear classification. Full text English Website www.bfar.da.gov.ph