ILOILO City – With fishing activities back in full swing in the Visayan Sea, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Region 6 issued a warning to fisherfolk: violators of fisheries laws face imprisonment, heavy fines, confiscation of catch, and suspension of licenses.
BFAR-6 regional director Remia Aparri stressed that while the three-month closed season has ended, authorities will strictly enforce the law to prevent illegal fishing that could undo gains from the conservation period.
“Ang aton mga mangingisda hilway naman liwat sa pagpangisda,” Aparri said.
Starting February 16, fisherfolk are once again allowed to catch sardines, mackerel, and herring in portions of the Visayan Sea following the November 15, 2025 to February 15, 2026 closed season.
During the three-month ban, catching, selling, and buying of the three species were prohibited to allow fish stocks to spawn, grow, and replenish.
Aparri said the rest period is expected to translate into increased supply in the coming weeks.
“Ekspektaron ang mas madamo nga supply sang isda sa aton mga merkado, kag once nga magdamo gani sini ang supply, ginalauman naton nga maga-barato man ang ili sang isda sa aton mga merkado. Ti, kun barato ang bili, mas mamag-an para sa aton mga bumulakal,” she added, noting that this could benefit consumers especially with the Lenten season approaching.
But she emphasized that the lifting of the ban does not mean a free-for-all at sea.
“Mga mangisda, maging responsable. Indi mag-illegal fishing nga makaguba sang aton dunang manggad sa kadagatan,” Aparri said.
She warned that those caught violating fisheries laws may face penalties ranging from six months and one day to six years imprisonment, confiscation of catch, and suspension of commercial fishing licenses.
According to Aparri, BFAR-6 is coordinating with a regional inter-agency task Force to conduct “sea force control operations” in the Visayan Sea to ensure compliance. The agency is also intensifying information and education campaigns in coastal municipalities.
The Visayan Sea, one of the country’s richest fishing grounds, is surrounded by 33 cities and municipalities in Capiz, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Cebu, and Masbate. It hosts vast coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass beds, and marine protected areas but remains vulnerable to illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, as well as marine debris.
The closed season was implemented under Fisheries Administrative Order 167-3, which provides the legal basis for spatial and temporal fishing closures in designated areas of the Visayan Sea.
Areas covered in Western Visayas included northern Iloilo towns such as Barotac Nuevo, Anilao, Banate, Barotac Viejo, Ajuy, Concepcion, San Dionisio, Batad, Estancia, Balasan, and Carles; parts of Capiz including Roxas City, Pilar, Pontevedra, President Roxas, and Panay; and northern Negros areas such as EB Magalona, Victorias City, Manapla, Sagay City, Cadiz City, and Escalante City.
The closure also covered Bantayan Island in Central Visayas./PN
