26/11/2017
From Nov. 15, 2017 to Feb. 15, 2018
FISHING BANNED IN VISAYAN SEA
FOR 3-MONTH SPAWNING PERIOD
As part of the program to make fishing sustainable in the country, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has declared a 3-month Closed Fishing Season in the Visayan Sea starting Nov. 15 this year to Feb. 15, 2018.
The 3-month Closed Fishing Season is declared in the different fishing grounds of the country to allow fish like Sardines, Herring and Mackerel to spawn and replenish the fish population.
The Closed Fishing Season has also been declared in the seas surrounding the Zamboanga Peninsula.
Started by BFAR in the a few years ago, the Closed Fishing Season declaration has resulted in greater fish catch during the Open Season.
It was also observed that bigger fish species like the Tuna have started to appear in fishing grounds where there is an abundance of smaller fish.
Patrol boats of the Department of Agriculture manned by the Philippine Coast Guard have been assigned to patrol the Visayan Sea to ensure the enforcement of the Closed Fishing Season.
Last week, I directed BFAR Director, Undersecretary Eduardo Gongona, to engage the organization of owners of small planes, like the Cessna, and deputize them as Guardians of the Seas.
I suggested they conduct fly overs in the fishing grounds where the Closed Fishing Season is enforced.
Everybody must be involved in the protection of the country's fishing grounds to ensure that there will be enough fish for the future generation.
Here is the official advisory:
Da-rafid Rfo VI
15 November at 22:23 · Bacolod City ·
News:
BFAR IMPLEMENTS CLOSED SEASON FOR CATCHING OF SARDINES, HERRINGS AND MACKERELS IN THE VISAYAN SEA
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Regional Office 6 is strictly enforcing Fisheries Administrative Order 167-3, declaring the period between November 15 to February 15 of every year as the closed season for sardines, herrings and mackerels. Offender will be subject to imprisonment of six (6) months and one (1) day to six (6) years and/or fine of six thousand pesos (P6,000.00), and by forfeiture of the catch and cancellation of fishing permit or license.
FAO 167-3 prohibits the catching, killing, selling or possessing the sexually mature sardines, herrings and mackerels or their larvae, fry or young known locally as “lupoy,” “silinyasi,” linatsay” or “manansi” in the portion of the Visayan Sea and adjoining waters enclosed by line drawn through following points and coastlines: from the mouth of Danac River on the northeastern tip of the Bantayan Island to Madridejos, thru the lighthouse on Gigantes Island, to Clutaya Island, to Culasi Point in Capiz province, eastward along the northern coast of Capiz to Bulacaue Point in Carles, Iloilo, southward along the eastern coast of Iloilo to the mouth of Talisay River, westward across the Guimaras Strait to Tomonton Point in Occidental Negros, eastward along the northern Coast of the Island of Negros and back to the mouth of Danao River in Escalante, Negros Occidental.
Sardines, herrings and mackerels are three of the most plentiful group of fishes in the Visayan Sea, the rich fishing ground bordered by the islands of Panay, Negros, Cebu and Masbate. These group of fishes ranked first in marine municipal fishery and third in commercial fishery production in the country. In the pursuit of sustainability, the sardines, herrings, and mackerel fisheries in these waters must be protected and conserved so that future generations of Filipinos will continue to benefit from these rich fisheries.
The young stages of these fishes are vulnerable to all marine predators, pollution and a host of coastal activities that may affect water temperature, salinity and alkalinity which could enormously cut down fish population sizes. The adults are most vulnerable to fishing when they migrate through the shallow coastal waters to spawn and catching a spawner is equivalent to killing several thousand of future fishes.
Relative to this, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Regional Office No. 7 (BFAR RO7), will spearhead the ceremony of the implementation of Fisheries Administrative Order (FAO) 167-3 on November 15, 2017 at Bakhawan Cultural Center, Brgy. Bakhawan, Daanbantayan, Cebu.
The ceremony will be attended by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Philippine Navy, Philippine National Police, PNP Maritime Group, Provincial and concerned Local Government Units of Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Cebu, Capiz, and Masbate.
The closed season for the catching of sardines, herrings, and mackerels contained in Fisheries Administrative Order No. 167-3 series of 2013 was issued on March 26, 2013, amending Fisheries Administrative Order No. 167 series of 1989, and had remained in effect since 1989.
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