MANILA — The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) will seek the Supreme Court’s reconsideration of its decision declaring unconstitutional the vessel monitoring system required for commercial fishing vessels, saying the measure remains a key tool in combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

The Department of Agriculture (DA), through BFAR, said it will soon file a motion for reconsideration, asking the high court to revisit its ruling on Fisheries Administrative Order (FAO) No. 266.

BFAR said it remains confident that a review of the case will affirm its authority to implement the amended Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998, noting that commercial fishing licenses are privileges granted by the State and are therefore subject to government regulation.

“We are fairly confident the Supreme Court will reconsider the ruling and allow us to use this internationally recognized vessel monitoring system as the most effective way to deal with illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, as it relies on electronic data and not manual filing of commercial fishing firms,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said.

The Supreme Court earlier struck down FAO No. 266, which required Philippine-flagged commercial fishing vessels to install vessel monitoring systems and submit electronic catch reports, ruling that the regulation violated constitutional rights.

BFAR said the vessel monitoring system is more than a tracking device, describing it as a frontline enforcement mechanism used to monitor compliance with fisheries regulations and conservation measures, including closed fishing seasons intended to protect spawning fish stocks.

The bureau said the ruling poses a broader policy challenge as the government continues efforts to strengthen fisheries enforcement, conserve marine resources, and comply with international commitments on sustainable fishing and product traceability.

“BFAR respects the decision of the Supreme Court and we are filing a motion for reconsideration,” the bureau said, adding that any future monitoring framework would comply with constitutional safeguards while advancing the State’s duty to protect marine resources.

BFAR also said it would review its implementing mechanisms to ensure technical soundness while addressing the concerns raised by stakeholders.

The agency emphasized that vessel monitoring systems are internationally recognized tools for preventing IUU fishing, supporting catch traceability, verifying compliance with fishing restrictions, and generating data for science-based fisheries management.

It added that maintaining an effective monitoring system is essential for meeting the traceability and sustainability standards required by international export markets.