ENVIRONMENTAL CRIME IN CHINA AND THE PHILIPPINES: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE FISHERIES LAWS.

Fisheries is important for both China and the Philippines, playing a major role in the economy of both countries. The former is the world's largest producer and exporter of fish, while the latter ranks high in fish, aquaculture, and in seaweeds and aquatic plants production. As such, both countries recognize the significance of fisheries as a natural resource that must be conserved and managed to ensure its sustainability for generations to come. To this end, both countries had adopted relevant national legislation, notable of which are their respective fisheries laws. Like most fisheries laws of other countries, fisheries law in China and the Philippines are largely administrative in nature. As such, failure to comply with such laws is treated more as administrative violations than crimes. However, the fisheries laws of both countries contain provisions under which offenders can be meted with criminal liabilities. This paper will attempt to examine provisions for criminal liabilities on the fisheries law of China and the Philippines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]