Section 24Sec./Art. 24

Aquatic and Fisheries Code. - The Regional Assembly may enact an aquatic and fisheries code which shall enhance, develop, conserve, and protect marine and aquatic resources, and shall protect the rights of subsistence fisherfolk to the preferential use of communal marine and fishing resources, including seaweeds. This protection shall extend to offshore fishing grounds, up to and including all waters fifteen (15) kilometers from the coastline of the autonomous region but within the territorial waters of the Republic, regardless of depth and the seabed and the subsoil that are included between two (2) lines drawn perpendicular to the general coastline from points where the boundary lines of the autonomous region touch the sea at low tide and a third line parallel to the general coastline.

The provinces and cities within the autonomous region shall have priority rights to the utilization, development, conservation, and protection of the aforementioned offshore fishing grounds.

The provinces and cities concerned shall provide support to subsistence fisherfolk through appropriate technology and research, adequate financial, production, marketing assistance, and other services.

The Regional Assembly shall enact priority legislation to ensure that fish-workers shall receive a just share from their labor in the utilization, production, and development of marine and fishing resources.

The Regional Assembly shall enact priority legislation to develop science, technology, and other disciplines for the protection and maintenance of aquatic and marine ecology.