Presidential Decree amending the first paragraph of section 17 and section 35 of Presidential Decree No. 704. Country/Territory Philippines Document type Legislation Date 1976 Source FAO, FAOLEX Subject Fisheries Keyword Marine fisheries Artisanal fishing Fishing area Fishing gear/fishing method Coastal zone management Fishery management and conservation Geographical area Asia, Asia and the Pacific, East Asian Seas, North Pacific, South-Eastern Asia Abstract It is the policy of the State to raise the economic condition of the municipal and small-scale fishermen. To achieve this purpose, those fishermen shall be provided with a wider area in the Philippine waters within which to operate their fishing boats of three gross tons or less. Commercial fishing boats shall be allowed to operate only in the Philippine waters of seven or more fathoms deep subject to the conditions and the rules and regulations that may, from time to time, be promulgated by the Secretary: provided, however, That the President of the Philippines may, upon the recommendation of the Secretary, ban the operation of commercial or other fishing gear in waters within a distance of seven kilometres from the shoreline if public interest so requires or if the ecology of the marine resources may be impaired. The Secretary may, upon the recommendation of the Director, establish a closed season in any Philippine water if necessary for conservation or ecological purposes (sect. 17). Section 35 is amended to read as follows: Subject to the provisions of section 17 hereof, no person shall operate trawls in waters seven fathoms deep or less: provided, that baby trawls using fishing boats of three gross tons or less may operate in areas four fathoms deep or more if authorized by existing municipal ordinances duly approved by the Secretary. The President of the Philippines may, upon the recommendation of the Secretary, ban the operation of trawls in waters within a distance of seven kilometres from the shoreline if public interest so requires. Full text English References - Legislation Amends Presidential Decree on Fisheries 1975 (No. 704 of 1975). Legislation | Philippines | 1976 Keyword: Basic legislation, Institution, Marine fisheries, Inland fisheries, Special fund, Credit, International trade, Internal trade, Enforcement/compliance, Offences/penalties, Cartilaginous fishes, Fishing authorization, Fishery management and conservation, Authorization/permit Source: FAO, FAOLEX