Guidelines on Foreign Fish Transshipment

Key agencies: BFAR, BI, BOC, DA, DFA, PCG, PFDA, PN, PNP-ASG, PNP-MG, POEA.
Foreign fishing vessels: Registered in countries other than the Philippines.
Foreign fishing operator: Owner and provider of fishing vessel, labor, capital, gear.
Philippine Waters: Includes territorial sea, EEZ, continental shelf, and all internal waters of the Philippines.
Transshipment: Process of unloading, cleaning, classifying, packing fish from foreign vessels and shipping abroad.
Transshipment Agent: Licensed Philippine entity acting as legal agent for foreign fishing operators.

Foreign vessels intending to use designated fish ports must pass through designated navigational lanes.
Additional fisheries administrative orders will identify navigational lanes for other regional fish ports.

Foreign vessels must call only at designated government-owned or controlled fishport complexes.
Entry clearance must be secured from the Department of Agriculture through BFAR before using port facilities.

Established at each designated fish port complex.
Multi-agency composition includes BFAR, PFDA, BOC, BI, NQO, PN, PCG, PNP-MG, POEA.
Tasks include document processing for fishery products and vessel documentation.

Vessels must be accredited by BFAR.
Obtain entry clearance from DFA or its agency prior to entering Philippine waters.
Notify BI with vessel and crew details.

Initiated by transshipment agent.
Application filed at regional fish ports with necessary vessel and ownership details.
Fee: P5,000 per vessel plus P100 departure clearance fee.
BFAR maintains list of accredited vessels.

Authorized agent must notify OSAC 48 hours prior to arrival.
Provide vessel name, registry, accreditation, LOA, ETA, coordinates, crew info, catch volume, and emergency needs.

Vessels anchor at quarantine area with yellow flag.
Boarding by NQO, BOC, BI, PCG, BFAR to conduct clearances.
Required documents include manifest, crew list, health certificates, and cargo manifest.
Only authorized personnel may board; vessels under BI custody.
Submission of Roll Book and BRUL application after berthing.

Fuel loading requires bunkering permit from BOC.
Other supplies require clearance from OSAC and permit submission.
Port personnel inspect fuel, water; monitor Anti-Pollution and SOLAS compliance.
PNP-MG enforces laws and arrests wanted crew.

Skipper secures Fish Port clearance (fee of P100), then OSAC clearance before obtaining BOC final exit clearance.
Required clearances must be settled; failure results in vessel disaccreditation and possible criminal prosecution.

Berthed vessels must be manned by competent personnel to move when necessary.
Repairs require permit; only minor repairs within 48 hours allowed without special permit.
Sunken vessels to be removed by owner/operator within 15 days or salvaged at their expense.

Compliance with human waste disposal, no discharging of garbage, bilged water or oil into harbor.
Transshipment agents must provide garbage containers and maintain hygiene.
Violations subject to penalties under pollution laws enforced by Fish Port management and PCG.

Violation leads to cancellation of vessel accreditation, loss of transshipment rights, and prosecution under applicable laws.

Order takes effect 15 days after publication in the Official Gazette or two newspapers of general circulation.