19/06/2025
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Amid growing concern over the future of shark populations in the Philippine waters, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has officially launched a new national plan that serves as a guide for conservation efforts and sustainable management of sharks, rays, and chimaeras.
Signed in May this year, the Order enables BFARโs central and regional offices to implement coordinated actions under the newly finalized Shark, Ray, and Chimaera Conservation and Fisheries Management Framework. Developed through nationwide consultations with the scientific community, policy experts, and other stakeholders, the framework sets out practical, science-based strategies to address species decline, enhance enforcement, and support sustainable fisheries, ensuring that conservation efforts are aligned with the communitiesโ needs.
A megadiverse country, the Philippines is home to approximately 200 species of sharks, rays, and chimaeras โ among them the iconic whale shark, the endangered pelagic thresher, and the devil ray. These species have vital roles not only in the Philippine marine ecosystem but also in the global marine biodiversity.
However, out of these 200 species, 30 are considered vulnerable, 20 are endangered, and two are classified as critically endangered under the IUCN Red List. Their slow growth and low reproductive rates make them especially vulnerable to overfishing, bycatch, habitat degradation, climate change, and unregulated trade. While 58 species of sharks, rays, and chimaeras are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), most remain without legal safeguards.
Rather than introducing new restrictions, the framework strengthens the implementation of existing relevant laws through a unified national approach. It focuses on five key pillars: research and development, conservation and adaptive management, monitoring and enforcement, capacity-building, and socio-economic safeguards. The framework aims to produce tangible outcomes, including improved catch data, protection of key habitats, recovery plans for threatened species, and livelihood support for affected fishers.
BFAR will conduct targeted studies, establish a national knowledge platform, and train personnel in species identification and trade monitoring. Toolkits and support will be provided to LGUs and to the 12 Fisheries Management Areas to ensure consistent application on the ground.
BFAR, in partnership with groups such as the Marine Wildlife Watch of the Philippines (MWWP), will roll out a nationwide education campaign this year, featuring school-based activities, IEC materials in local languages, and integration into major events like Fish Conservation Week and Maritime and Archipelagic Nation Awareness Month. MWWP, which contributed to the development of the framework in its earlier form, continues to support public engagement and knowledge-sharing efforts.
A National Technical Working Group will coordinate implementation and guide interagency efforts to ensure that management remains evidence-based and community-informed. BFAR expects the framework to shape policy directions, support biodiversity-friendly enterprises, promote responsible shark tourism, and assist local monitoring and enforcement.
BFAR calls on local government units, fisherfolk organizations, and the civil society to take part in the frameworkโs implementation through data sharing, local enforcement, and capacity-building.
