ROXAS City – The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has officially launched in this “Seafood Capital of the Philippines” the “closed season” for sardines, herring, and mackerel at Barangay Baybay, Roxas City on Nov. 1.
BFAR is gearing up to implement Fisheries Administrative Order No. 167-3 which seeks to impose a three-month fishing ban for sardines, herring and mackerel fish within the Visayan sea, according to provincial fisheries officer Edwin Javier.
Catching and selling fish from the area – including larvae, fry or young – will also be prohibited.
The ban will begin on Nov. 15 and will end Feb. 15, 2019.
According to a BFAR, 550 metric tons of sardines were hauled from the Visayan Sea from November 2014 to May 2015, up from 500 metric tons from November 2013 to May 2014.
Under the BFAR’s Fisheries Administrative Order No. 167-3, the fishing and selling of the following species are prohibited for three months:
* goldstripe sardines (locally called tamban / tabagak)
* Bali sardines (tamban / tamban-tuloy)
* rainbow sardine (tamban / balantiyong)
* short-bodied mackerel (hasa-hasa / guma-a)
* Indian mackerel (bulaw / buraw / alumahan)
“This will give opportunity for these fishes to spawn in time for this season,” Javier said.
The order will be strictly imposed and those found violating will be meted a fine of P6,000, punishable by imprisonment from 6 months to 6 years, Javier added.
Aside from fines and imprisonment, violators will also face the cancellation of their fishing permits and the forfeiture of their catch.
The “closed season” at the Visayan Sea covers an area drawn through certain points and coastlines.
These coastlines include from the mouth of the Danao River on the northeastern tip of Bantayan Island to Madridejos (Cebu) through the lighthouse on Gigantes Island (Iloilo), to Olotayan Island and Culasi Point (Capiz); 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 Negros Occidental; eastward along the northern coast of Negros Island and back to the mouth of Danao River in Escalante, Negros Occidental./PN
