CLASSIFICATION OF SMALL-SCALE AND COMMERCIAL FISHERIES
Due to different legal definitions used by each country, the following table shows the classification of small-scale
and commercial fisheries of countries in the region.
Countries
Small-scale Fisheries
Commercial Fisheries
Brunei Darussalam
Small-scale/artisanal fisheries:
Operating in all zones but concentrating
in Zone 1 (0-3 nm)		 Trawler, seiner, long liner
a) <60 GT; <350 Hp operating in Zone 2
b) 60.1-150 GT; 351-600 Hp operating in Zone 3
c) 151-200 GT; 600-800 Hp operating in Zone 4
Cambodia
Coastal fisheries, small-scale fisheries
with/without engine (from 5-50 Hp)
operating in Zone 1		 Commercial fisheries: more than 50 Hp
operating in Zone 2
Indonesia
 Fisheries that its operation without
using boat, using non-power boat, using
outboard motor size <5 GT, or inboard
motor size <5 GT
 a) Fisheries that its operation using outboard
motor size 5-30 GT or inboard motor size
5-30 GT
b) Fisheries that its operating using outboard
motor size > 30 GT
Lao PDR
 - -
Malaysia
 Traditional fisheries: small-scale
fisheries using traditional fishing gears
(i.e. other than trawls and purse seines)
with vessel less than 40 GRT operating
in all zones concentrating in Zone 1
 Commercial fisheries: Medium and large-scale
fisheries using commercial fishing gears such as trawls and purse seines
a) With vessels less than 40 GRT operating in
Zone 2
b) With vessels from 40-70 GRT operating in
Zone 3
c) With vessels above 70 GRT operating in
Zone 4
Myanmar
Coastal fisheries: vessels of less than 30 ft
or using less than 12 Hp engine operating
in Zone 1
 Industrial fisheries: vessels more than 30 ft or
using more than 12 Hp engines operating in
Zone 2
Philippines
 Municipal fisheries: small-scale fisheries
with vessels of less than 3 GT operating
in Zone 1 and 2
 Commercial fisheries:
a) Small-scale commercial fisheries: from 3.1-20
GT vessels operating in Zone 2; can also
operate within 10.1-15 km (within Zone 1)
if authority is granted by the concerned local
government unit (LGU)
b) Medium-scale commercial fisheries: from
20.1-150 GT operating in Zone 2; can also
operate within 10.1-15 km (within Zone 1)
if authority is granted by the concerned local
government unit (LGU)
c) Large-scale commercial fisheries: more than
150 GT operating in Zone 2
Singapore
 Small-scale fisheries with vessels of less
than 3 GT operating in Zone 1
 Large-scale commercial fisheries: Inboard engine
less than 50 GT or 380 Hp operating in Zone 2
Thailand
Small-scale fisheries: vessels of less
than 5 GT operating in Zone 1
 Large-scale fisheries: vessels of more than 5 GT operating in Zone 2
Viet Nam
 Small-scale fisheries: vessels with no
engine and with engine but less than
40 Hp
 Large-scale fisheries: vessels with engine more
than 40 Hp
Fishing Zones of Countries in Southeast Asia:
Countries
Fishing Zone 1
Fishing Zone 2
Fishing Zone 3
Fishing Zone 4
Brunei Darussalam
From shore line to
3 nm 		From 3 nm to 20 nm EEZ limit From 20 nm to 45
nm
 From 45 nm to EEZ limit
Cambodia
From shore line to 20 m depth
 From 20 m depth to EEZ limit    
Indonesia
 From shore line to 4 nm
 From the outer limit of first fishing zone to 12 nm from shore
 From the outer limit of second fishing zone to EEZ
limit		  
Malaysia
 From shore line to 5 nm From 5 nm to 12 nm From 12 nm to 30
nm
 From 30 nm to EEZ limit
Myanmar
From shore line to 5 nm in the northern area, 10 nm in the southern area
 From outer limit of first fishing zone to EEZ limit    
Philippines
 From shore line to 15 km
 From 15 km to EEZ limit    
Singapore
 From shore line to within Port Limits
 From 12 nm to EEZ limit    
Thailand
From shore line to 12 nm
 From 12 nm to EEZ limit    
Viet Nam
 From shore line to 30 m depth in Northern and
Southern areas, to 50 m depth in Central area
 From 30 to 50 m depth to the EEZ limit