Section 8Sec./Art. 8

Powers and Functions of the Board. The Board shall have the authority to:

(a) Promulgate, adopt, and issue rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this Act;

(b) Administer and supervise the Licensure examination for admission to the practice of the fisheries profession;

(c) Supervise and regulate the licensure, registration and practice of the fisheries profession;

(d) Administer the oath of a professional to the successful examinees in the licensure examination for fisheries professionals in appropriate mass oath-taking ceremonies to be held for the purpose;

(e) Register and issue certificates of registration to successful examinees in licensure examinations for fisheries professionals and to persons qualified to register as fisheries professionals without examination;

(f) Suspend, or revoke the certificate of registration and professional identification card of a fisheries professional for causes provided herein;

(g) Adopt an official seal of the Board as well as the seal of fisheries professionals;

(h) Adopt and promulgate a Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice for Fisheries Professionals;

(i) Look into the conditions affecting the practice of the fisheries profession and whenever necessary, adopt measures as may be deemed appropriate for the enhancement or maintenance of high professional and ethical standards of the practice of the fisheries profession;

(j) Ensure, in coordination with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), that all educational institutions offering courses in fisheries education comply with the policies, standards and requirements of the course prescribed by the CHED in the areas of curriculum, faculty, library, and facilities, as well as to conform itself with the Philippine Qualifications Framework (PQF) necessary for education and training provisions in the conformance towards learning outcomes;

(k) Hear, try, and decide administrative cases involving violations of the provisions of this Act and its implementing rules and regulations (IRR) including the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice for Fisheries Professionals and, for this purpose, issue subpoena and subpoena duces tecum to secure the appearance of witnesses and the production of documents and to testify in connection herewith;

(l) Enforce compliance with Republic Act No. 10912, otherwise known as "Continuing Professional Development Act of 2016". The Continuing Professional Development (CPD) law shall be mandatory for all Fisheries professionals in coordination with the accredited national association of fisheries professionals;

(m) Prepare, adopt and issue, in consultation with the academe, the syllabi or tables of specification of the subjects for the licensure examinations and to amend the same; and

(n) To discharge and perform such other duties and functions as may be necessary to carry out the objectives and purposes of this Act.

Except on matters which are ministerial in nature, all policies and functions of the Board embodied in resolutions as well as rules and regulations issued by the Board shall be subject to the review and approval of the Commission.